Avalanche Farmington

[Chief]

When I was a kid and rode Farmington nearly every weekend we only had 340 or 440 fans and free-airs with 121 inch tracks, 1/2 inch deep..

We couldn't run way up, or sometimes even get to, those slopes but still had tons of fun and worked like crazy to get on the ridge and back and forth to Bountiful.

There is no riding I do today that is really more fun then the riding we did then but today, with more power, deeper and longer tracks, it's much more dangerous as we push the sleds to give us the thrills the old sleds gave us in much safer conditions.

We got stuck then, just like today, but in much safer places. The back side of the mountain to Morgan was a place that you couldn’t even ride into because you knew you couldn’t ride out. Grandview was only accessible on the rare occasion when the spring snow froze back up near dark and gave you a surface crust to get the cleats into.

Today the place to be is in the trees.. more and more that’s where the safer but still challenging riding is. If you’re going to play on the steep, open, slopes you really do have to study avalanches, snow conditions, and think about what if the cornice breaks off. You have to take time to dig a pit, read the snow, plan your day.

My condolences to Lee’s family and friends.. Dying young is terrible for everyone involved.

Chief out

 

[UtahEdge]

This was just a couple ridges over last friday. I sat at the bottom of that hill that slid looking at that cornice a decided to pass. I am glad I did. Rest in peace.

 

[sandorsnow]

The bowl that slid was dead tree bowl. Just north of the towers.

I heard the poor guy that was riding with Lee had one hell of a night after going back to get his truck. (ended up walking out?) I don't know his name but he drove a newer grey dodge truck. I don't want to post anything that i'm not 100% sure of, so if anyone knows about it will you confirm it please?

Farmington IS NOT SAFE RIGHT NOW. STAY AWAY. EVEN THE ROAD IS UNSAFE.

I'll post more as soon as I find out.

 

[sprockethead]

Sad news to here! With more snow coming in the next few days everyone be safe and stay away from the danger zones if u must ride. Lets not have any more avy deaths this year! My heart and prayers go out to all of Lee's family.

Sprocket

 

[sled_guy]

Just got a note from an old friend, Blaine Gardner. Lee was his brother. They are in shock of course. I guess Lee's wife passed away 10 months ago and now their 3 kids are parentless.

One thinks things can't get sadder...

sled_guy

 

[acutah]

The bowl that slid was dead tree bowl. Just north of the towers.

I heard the poor guy that was riding with Lee had one hell of a night after going back to get his truck. (ended up walking out?) I don't know his name but he drove a newer grey dodge truck. I don't want to post anything that i'm not 100% sure of, so if anyone knows about it will you confirm it please?

Farmington IS NOT SAFE RIGHT NOW. STAY AWAY. EVEN THE ROAD IS UNSAFE.

I'll post more as soon as I find out.

I heard a wild story too...something about being run off the road and rolling his truck on his way down the canyon.

 

[JedInUtah]

Just got a note from an old friend, Blaine Gardner. Lee was his brother. They are in shock of course. I guess Lee's wife passed away 10 months ago and now their 3 kids are parentless.

One thinks things can't get sadder...

sled_guy

That is absolutely horrible......

 

[ACG]

Just got a note from an old friend, Blaine Gardner. Lee was his brother. They are in shock of course. I guess Lee's wife passed away 10 months ago and now their 3 kids are parentless.

One thinks things can't get sadder...

sled_guy

That is horrible to hear. Losing one parent would be hard enough, but both in the same year....

How old were the children?

Everyone stay safe out there and let's shoot for no stories like this next year...or the rest of this year for that matter.

 

[mtnpull]

Just got a note from an old friend, Blaine Gardner. Lee was his brother. They are in shock of course. I guess Lee's wife passed away 10 months ago and now their 3 kids are parentless.

One thinks things can't get sadder...

sled_guy

Wow, that is absolutely horrible. I can't even imagine what those poor kids are dealing with. Does anybody know of a fund that has been set up that we can donate to?

 

[sandorsnow]

I heard a wild story too...something about being run off the road and rolling his truck on his way down the canyon.

Yep, flew out with Lee, went back up to get his truck, right below sunset campground slid into the side ditch, cranked the wheel to get out, it grabbed and went over the edge, all the way to the bottom. and that's a long a$$ way down right there.​

and then HE WALKED AWAY!!!​

I've lost a few close friends going off the edge up there over the years and came out lucky once myself.

Don't know weather to call him a lucky ba$tard or a poor ba$tard.​

Either way, wow​

If you're reading this and you would like help retrieving your sleds still at the avy site, pm me, my buds and I would be glad to help.​

My sincerest condolances to you​

 

[swtsunshine]

Yep, flew out with Lee, went back up to get his truck, right below sunset campground slid into the side ditch, cranked the wheel to get out, it grabbed and went over the edge, all the way to the bottom. and that's a long a$$ way down right there.​

and then HE WALKED AWAY!!!​

I've lost a few close friends going off the edge up there over the years and came out lucky once myself.

Don't know weather to call him a lucky ba$tard or a poor ba$tard.​

Either way, wow​

If you're reading this and you would like help retrieving your sleds still at the avy site, pm me, my buds and I would be glad to help.​

My sincerest condolances to you​

That's horrible. What a day for him. I can't imagine losing a friend and then going through something like that. I would say he's blessed and protected.
If anyone knows what help the family may need please post. ($$$ or anything else.)

 

[sled_guy]

I don't know the ages of the kids. There is a fund setup at Zions to help with funeral expenses. I've sent him an email asking if there is anything else we could do to help.

Sucks... 3 more kids in this world who lost their dad to an avy.

sled_guy

 

[phatty]

Yep, flew out with Lee, went back up to get his truck, right below sunset campground slid into the side ditch, cranked the wheel to get out, it grabbed and went over the edge, all the way to the bottom. and that's a long a$$ way down right there.​

and then HE WALKED AWAY!!!​

I've lost a few close friends going off the edge up there over the years and came out lucky once myself.

Don't know weather to call him a lucky ba$tard or a poor ba$tard.​

Either way, wow​

If you're reading this and you would like help retrieving your sleds still at the avy site, pm me, my buds and I would be glad to help.​

My sincerest condolances to you​

i wouldnt go anywhere near that avy site for a few days. probably 3 feet of new snow plus wind is a recipe for another disaster...

those poor kids...

 

[MERL T]

Lee was an awesome rider and friend, I have had some of the most unforgetable days on a machine with this guy. North is not for everyone as many of you know, but there was none other I would have rode there with than Lee. One of the best-hearted men I knew. The loss of his wife was super hard on Lee. He sure loved to ride and loved the sport.Thoughts and Prayers with his children,
Rest in Peace friend...looks like you get to hit all the untouched first! -MERL

 

[dude]

Not that it matters to much but it sounds like from the avi forecast center report he was not climbing the hill but was "traveling north along a ridge when a cornice he was on cracked and broke off" From the photos it looks like that would have been a hell of a climb to get up that cliff face and all the way to the cornice even if the cliff face was covered before the avi. Bad deal. Weblink with avi photos and map below...

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/accident_francis_peak_442010

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Accident & Rescue Summary:
One snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche that he triggered on Sunday, April 4th. He was traveling north along a ridge when a cornice he was on cracked and broke off. This caused an avalanche to release below the cornice. He was carried over a cliff band. He was buried approximately 1000 feet below the ridge under 2 to 3 feet of debris. Davis County Search and Rescue responded and the victim was extricated via helicopter.

Recent snow coupled with strong winds on Saturday caused snow to be drifted into deep drifts on the lee sides of ridges. The Farmington Canyon/Francis Peak ridgeline is notoriously windy and large fresh cornices had formed.

There will be more information posted on this later today (Tuesday April 6)
---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Scott]

Was Lee a SW user?

Just got a note from an old friend, Blaine Gardner. Lee was his brother. They are in shock of course. I guess Lee's wife passed away 10 months ago and now their 3 kids are parentless.

One thinks things can't get sadder...

sled_guy

You have got to be kidding!! That is horrible.

Yep, flew out with Lee, went back up to get his truck, right below sunset campground slid into the side ditch, cranked the wheel to get out, it grabbed and went over the edge, all the way to the bottom. and that's a long a$$ way down right there.​

and then HE WALKED AWAY!!!​

I've lost a few close friends going off the edge up there over the years and came out lucky once myself.

Don't know weather to call him a lucky ba$tard or a poor ba$tard.​

Either way, wow​

If you're reading this and you would like help retrieving your sleds still at the avy site, pm me, my buds and I would be glad to help.​

My sincerest condolances to you​

That guy had an awful day. WOW I feel terrible for him.
He's a very lucky guy.

 

[Chief]

I thought that area was off limits to sleds?

A couple of years ago I saw a map that said that area was off limits to over the snow motor vehicle (snowmobile) travel. Everything on the ridge north of the radomes was restricted.

Am I wrong?

 

[AVA]

While I didnt know Lee personally I knew the rider that was with him at the time of the avalanche (know him through a friend). This e-mail was forwarded on to me from him and I feel it contains good information to help answer any questions or misinformation that may be going around. I have deleted the kids names at the bottom of the e-mail for privacy reasons.

"Hello friends I hope this finds you all well.

Just to shotgun a few questions because apparently the news coverage has been mixed; watch this and look at the pictures then read below, it might make more sense as to what happened.
http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-snow-mobiler-dies-in-avalanche,0,7968186.story


I am OK and was not in the slide

We were on the top of the ridge line not in the lower bowls traversing along the peaks just north of Francis Peak.

We were not climbing under the cornice and were in no way planning on venturing into the slide zones.

It broke to his right when Lee unknowingly rode over it approximately 15 feet from the edge; I missed it, it missed me by about a foot.

The slide section that broke was approximately 100 feet north to south 20 Feet east to west and 20 feet thick. It ran out about 2000 feet and took him and his sled over a 150 foot cliff.

I was able to ride around the shoulder of the draw and gain access to the slide path in a matter of minutes.

I was the only other rider with Lee

The were two helicopters but I did not fly out with them

I was able to ride my sled out and was not in any added danger

About 2 hours after the slide while attempting to avoid a rouge snowmobiler in Farmington canyon, he was coming up and I down, I did roll my truck and trailer down the canyon south face approximately 1500 feet.

I was able to climb back up to the road and outside of a few cuts and bumps I am fine; the truck however is a complete loss.

The truck, trailer, and my sled are still in the canyon and they are not sure they will be able to retrieve them.

Lee's kids are being taken care of by the rest of his family and seem to be doing quite well

Zions bank has a trust account set up in his name for anyone who wishes to help with his children and burial costs. You can donate on line or at any branch location.

The viewing will be Friday from 6-8 at Russon Brothers in Bountiful and the family has requested that anyone who has ridden with Lee please wear your riding gear and bring your helmet so they can line them up next to the casket in tribute.

The funeral will take place Saturday at 11:30 at a church by his house I think...you can confirm later or at the viewing.

Carol, his wife, died 10 months ago due to asphyxiation after an un-witnessed seizure.

Thank you all for your kind and generous words of support and may all our thoughts and prayers be with Lee, Carol, Child #1, Child #2, Child #3."

 

[WXNic]

prayers go out to you man. so sorry. i'm glad to help in any way.

 

[DOOingitUtah]

I don't even know what to say. There are times when I think that things are a little rough but this gives me renewed perspective on life. I can't even imagine how the kids feel and equally how the friend that was with him feels. The whole story puts a pit in my stomach.