We rode today out if smiths fork (I believe that is what it is called)....on ourway out around 430 we were informed by the groomer that there had been an avalanche and buried one person who was found and uncovered but unconscious.....anyone know anymore information on. Where the group was from and if he ended up pulling through? We where all sick to our stomachs to hear this.
Avalanche - Afton
- Thread starter crusher
- Start date
I was in the group involved in the avalanches on 2-16-17. He is doin good. He rode a sled out himself. Earlier in the day there was an avalanche that also buried one person, our group saw it and helped get him out. He also was unconscious but we got him back as well. He was able to ride out on his sled.
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Smith Fork Avalanche 2/11/13
My wife is typing this for me... I was in an avalanche in Smith Fork area on Monday 2/11/13. I was with three of my friends. We had already discussed being super careful that morning, went over how to use our beacons, and even avoided multiple hills that we thought to be unsafe. I don't know exactly where we were in Smith Fork (it was about 1 hr 15 min ride from the parking lot). All four of us dropped down this particular hill. Stopped and ate lunch (Pic #1 prior to avalanche) and then we each took turns riding the hill. On my second time up (5th time on hill for group) I high marked and felt it crack. I turned down and tried to out run it and would probably have been successful except for two 6ft waves of snow launched me and my sled into a tree. I bailed right before sled went into tree and in the air I something (wither tree or sled) destroyed my right shoulder. My friends later told me they thought I would be dead just based on the sound and sight of the impact to the tree. I landed and was over taken by avalanche and buried and carried about 150 yds down further.
Thankfully, somehow my face ended near surface and I was able to punch to surface for air with my left hand. Friends said I was carried/buried for about 1min30sec before they found me. They were using beacons but saw my single hand waving in the snow. It took them about 3 min to dig me out. My body was arched backwards and my feet were 5ft below surface.
Avalanche broke down to base layer (about 8 to 10 ft) and was about 1/4 mile wide clear around mountain side.
One of my friends stayed with me while two rode out to get help. THANK YOU TO WYOMING SEARCH AND RESCUE! They did an awesome job keeping my spirits up and treating me. The avalanche occurred around noon and search rescue finally got to me about 4pm and life flight (Air Idaho) was called and arrived about 4:50pm.
My right shoulder was dislocated and set at the ER in Idaho Falls. Since then I have been brought home to Ogden UT and been seeing specialists for my arm. Still trying to determine extent of damage, but we do know that the ball of shoulder is shattered, right rotator cuff will need to have surgery, and they are worried about the socket being fractured as well. Possible right peck detachment and left lung puncture. I go back to the Dr on Monday to set plans for surgery etc. They told me I will be sleeping in a recliner for 6 to 8 months.
The sled was recovered the next day by two of my friends and had damage to the left side but looks like it will be fixable.
This was truly a life changing event. I have been in accidents before but nothing compares to being caught in an avalanche. I almost died I know it, and somehow I am lucky enough to tell the story and preach the importance of avalanche safety! BE careful and BE PREPARED!
Thank you to my friends Greg P, Jason C, and Pete D! I owe you my life!
My wife is typing this for me... I was in an avalanche in Smith Fork area on Monday 2/11/13. I was with three of my friends. We had already discussed being super careful that morning, went over how to use our beacons, and even avoided multiple hills that we thought to be unsafe. I don't know exactly where we were in Smith Fork (it was about 1 hr 15 min ride from the parking lot). All four of us dropped down this particular hill. Stopped and ate lunch (Pic #1 prior to avalanche) and then we each took turns riding the hill. On my second time up (5th time on hill for group) I high marked and felt it crack. I turned down and tried to out run it and would probably have been successful except for two 6ft waves of snow launched me and my sled into a tree. I bailed right before sled went into tree and in the air I something (wither tree or sled) destroyed my right shoulder. My friends later told me they thought I would be dead just based on the sound and sight of the impact to the tree. I landed and was over taken by avalanche and buried and carried about 150 yds down further.
Thankfully, somehow my face ended near surface and I was able to punch to surface for air with my left hand. Friends said I was carried/buried for about 1min30sec before they found me. They were using beacons but saw my single hand waving in the snow. It took them about 3 min to dig me out. My body was arched backwards and my feet were 5ft below surface.
Avalanche broke down to base layer (about 8 to 10 ft) and was about 1/4 mile wide clear around mountain side.
One of my friends stayed with me while two rode out to get help. THANK YOU TO WYOMING SEARCH AND RESCUE! They did an awesome job keeping my spirits up and treating me. The avalanche occurred around noon and search rescue finally got to me about 4pm and life flight (Air Idaho) was called and arrived about 4:50pm.
My right shoulder was dislocated and set at the ER in Idaho Falls. Since then I have been brought home to Ogden UT and been seeing specialists for my arm. Still trying to determine extent of damage, but we do know that the ball of shoulder is shattered, right rotator cuff will need to have surgery, and they are worried about the socket being fractured as well. Possible right peck detachment and left lung puncture. I go back to the Dr on Monday to set plans for surgery etc. They told me I will be sleeping in a recliner for 6 to 8 months.
The sled was recovered the next day by two of my friends and had damage to the left side but looks like it will be fixable.
This was truly a life changing event. I have been in accidents before but nothing compares to being caught in an avalanche. I almost died I know it, and somehow I am lucky enough to tell the story and preach the importance of avalanche safety! BE careful and BE PREPARED!
Thank you to my friends Greg P, Jason C, and Pete D! I owe you my life!
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Here is a link to my fb account for pictures. Hopefully it works.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.534155423296565.93017151.100001063377393&type=1&l=f3706764af
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.534155423296565.93017151.100001063377393&type=1&l=f3706764af
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Stay home if you don't know how to ride in the back country!
SORRY I hit such a nerve.
Guess i'll go lick my wounds.
SORRY I hit such a nerve.
Guess i'll go lick my wounds.
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Congrats on the most insensitive stupid post of the week maybe longer.
I am not from Utah but I challenge you to share where you get your facts. Bet you lunch you are wrong!
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Our group knows how to ride in the back country and are very knowledgeable with the area that we were in. Been going there for years, this is the first time we've had a problem or called SAR. We had 22 people in our group we also had 22 beacons and all the necessary equipment.
The first avalanche which was not our group, we just saw it and went to help. They had 10+ people and guess what? ONE beacon! I don't even think they had a shovel because I have video of my group bringing the shovels. They were from Idaho. I totally understand your frustration when it comes to a group like this.
Our group rode extremely cautious the whole day because we knew it was unstable conditions and had discussed it. Go look at the hill that slid, the trail to balls goes right under it, through the bottom, its also a deceiving hill that's not all that big compared to some of the ones in the vicinity that have tracks all over them. Balls being one of them, both facing the sun. It caught us by surprise.
The first avalanche which was not our group, we just saw it and went to help. They had 10+ people and guess what? ONE beacon! I don't even think they had a shovel because I have video of my group bringing the shovels. They were from Idaho. I totally understand your frustration when it comes to a group like this.
Our group rode extremely cautious the whole day because we knew it was unstable conditions and had discussed it. Go look at the hill that slid, the trail to balls goes right under it, through the bottom, its also a deceiving hill that's not all that big compared to some of the ones in the vicinity that have tracks all over them. Balls being one of them, both facing the sun. It caught us by surprise.
Sleddermiles
We ride with full time Fire and EMS guys and the only reason we called SAR, was due to the fact he had been barried for such a long time! And we have lots of family that is from star valley Thayne to be exact. So does that mean that we can ride there because we have family there?
I hope that you never have to call Star valley search and rescue when your ridding. And i hope we never have to again.
I would like to thank star valley search and rescue they helped us get the victims sled out they are a really good group of guys.
Your all entitled to your opinion I'm just glad everyone lived to talk about it.
We ride with full time Fire and EMS guys and the only reason we called SAR, was due to the fact he had been barried for such a long time! And we have lots of family that is from star valley Thayne to be exact. So does that mean that we can ride there because we have family there?
I hope that you never have to call Star valley search and rescue when your ridding. And i hope we never have to again.
I would like to thank star valley search and rescue they helped us get the victims sled out they are a really good group of guys.
Your all entitled to your opinion I'm just glad everyone lived to talk about it.
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It just seem that everytime I go we meet a group that is turned around and lost. Yesterday rode into the Posion Meadow warming hut and low and behold there was a group(from utah) that was so drunk they couldn't hardly stand and they had a 20 mile ride out.
It isn't all Utahns (I have alot of relative's that live in Utah) it just seem to be ALOT of them.
If I pissed u off guess you'll just have to get over it!
It isn't all Utahns (I have alot of relative's that live in Utah) it just seem to be ALOT of them.
If I pissed u off guess you'll just have to get over it!
I noticed most of the rigs in the lot where from utah or Idaho. I am sorry you don't want us there....too bad....here is what a cheap estimate our group spent in Afton.....and by the way...I love the town...I love the people....obviously you would not like me or our group.....o well everyone else seemed to love our business.
$625 worth of out of state tags
$3500 worth of rooms
$2000 fuel and gas and treats at gardners
$1200 at local grocery store
$250 Robinson motors
$400 at elk horn restaurant
$1000 at Heggs
$800 hay loft
We showed up Friday and left today.
I am sure I missed some incidentals....your telling me we came and dropped $10,000 in Afton on a weekend and your gonna tell me to get lost. Oh and we do this every year. And our group is only one group.
You are the only person who has ever told us not to come. Darren and Scott at Robinson motors were great. All the waitresses were happy to take our tips....gardners loved us every morning fueling and gassing. Camie at mountain inn condos wants us back more often. I know several locals up in Afton and they even rode with us and wanted us to bring more people...they realize our riding in Afton helps your economy. I have donated money to your search and rescue...I hope i never need them....but I need them to be equipped if our group ever does.
Good luck if you get your wish....but unfortunately you won't....I will be back again this year and next and next and next
$625 worth of out of state tags
$3500 worth of rooms
$2000 fuel and gas and treats at gardners
$1200 at local grocery store
$250 Robinson motors
$400 at elk horn restaurant
$1000 at Heggs
$800 hay loft
We showed up Friday and left today.
I am sure I missed some incidentals....your telling me we came and dropped $10,000 in Afton on a weekend and your gonna tell me to get lost. Oh and we do this every year. And our group is only one group.
You are the only person who has ever told us not to come. Darren and Scott at Robinson motors were great. All the waitresses were happy to take our tips....gardners loved us every morning fueling and gassing. Camie at mountain inn condos wants us back more often. I know several locals up in Afton and they even rode with us and wanted us to bring more people...they realize our riding in Afton helps your economy. I have donated money to your search and rescue...I hope i never need them....but I need them to be equipped if our group ever does.
Good luck if you get your wish....but unfortunately you won't....I will be back again this year and next and next and next
Go back to being an frick'n loser Autotech....whatever that is, hope a car falls on your ***....the topic is avalanche and how the boys worked it out and it came out clean, not about who you saw drunk or who's from Utah. This is a great story of how people pull together and get'r done right.
Glad you guys are ok and that you had responsible people around to help and get guys out safely and efficiently. That's what it's about.
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Glad to hear your OK! God was looking over you! Prayers for a fast recovery!
M
mikesbike2003
Member
Glad you posted up on here. I love that area over there one of my favs.
Sounds like everyone had it together. Hope my ride group does that good of a job if I need them.
And remember there is only one ******* in Afton......unfortunately theres always one
Sounds like everyone had it together. Hope my ride group does that good of a job if I need them.
And remember there is only one ******* in Afton......unfortunately theres always one
I know everyone is mad about the comments sleddermiles made but everyone has there own opinion, that's his wrong or right. Our group had amazing luck that day 3 people caught in avalanches 2 fully entrapped neither of them breathing we had a medic with us that knew what to do thank god. Prorider made it out hurt but alive I'm happy to here that.lets all focus on what went right not what one person had to say just in this post 4 people lived to tell about it who cares about one person comments. The first avalanche was not even our group but we helped and he lived a terrible day turned out great we all went home alive
H
Hiterhard
Well-known member
good to hear your all ok, but sounds like you we're pushing it a bit if you got 3 people caught in ONE day. after the first one that's a time to re group and get everyone on the same page. There is a lot of fun stuff to ride when the snow on the hill is pretty unstable.
Another thing is 22 in a group? That sounds like chaos to me. If one guy gets buried, all it takes is one person to forget to switch to recieve or turn his beacon off, that it makes it damn hard to find someone. Which could be easy to do in the heat of the moment when your buddy is buried. Just things to think about, not bashing at all. Would never want that to happen to any of my buddies. But no high mark on any hill is worth it to me to lose my friend or myself. We usually leave it alone and live to ride another day.
Hiterhard
Great post let me be very clear there was no high marking going on when this happened, we was ridding out. All I can say is practice with your beacon alot. 22 people is alot we learned some good lesson I'm happy it wasn't at the expense of someones life. It was very crazy in the moment it happened. All mountain riders need to be very good with there beacons. I personally will practice with my beacon now alot more than I used to.
Great post let me be very clear there was no high marking going on when this happened, we was ridding out. All I can say is practice with your beacon alot. 22 people is alot we learned some good lesson I'm happy it wasn't at the expense of someones life. It was very crazy in the moment it happened. All mountain riders need to be very good with there beacons. I personally will practice with my beacon now alot more than I used to.
sleddermiles is right it's 92% of all people saved here in the afton area are from utah. that is from the search and rescue records. as he said it's not all but alot of people from utah should not even try the back country out here. some of you are good ridders. but it's like a beach with waves the locals don't like out of towners that mess it up for the locals. as far as spending 10k here you stayed at the highest cost place. and thanks for the money and glad you made it home safe.
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