Avy class that was taken paid off

[Fast Freddie]

Just about lost a best friend today! Trying to get the last ride in for the year.
Just got to the bowls about 11 oclock i did a pass up the hill 3/4 the way up semed fine got to the bottom sent my friend up. Watched him clime till he started his turn then reached down to open the hood to cool the sled down.
Look back up to see him fly over the snow wall about 20/25 feet in the air come down plant his sled & leggs then cartwheel twice then the avy started to over take him. As i watched him bob up and down in the snow he put his arms& leggs out to make him self bigger this seamed to keep him on the top THANK GOD when i got to him he told me he had broke his leg. His sled was buried put one side panel i asked if he wanted for me to use the SPOT 911 and get the helley in for him. NO were is my sled dig it out and we will ride out put a splint on my leg and we fill get out. After getting his sled out splintting his leg we headed out with out a wine or sound out of him. He rode out of the bowls, down the hill to the trail & still not a word about hurting.
On the trail the snow got so soft on the sides we got both sleds buried, then
got out of this and finely back to the truck 11 miles later and still not a word about pain. Got him to the hospital about 31/2 hr later he's broke his leg in three places and now he says it's starting to hurt. THIS IS ONE TOUGH SOME #### . Thank god we took are avy class again this year and evey year as the training paid off. I had my pack off shovel out avy beacon turned to surch befor the avy got stopped. And i was heading for him.
THANK GOD HE IS OK this could have turn out a lot worse.
So to all the riders out there take the avy course, get a beacon , and the spot so you can get help there as soon as you can
FF

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Just about lost a best friend today! Trying to get the last ride in for the year.
Just got to the bowls about 11 oclock i did a pass up the hill 3/4 the way up semed fine got to the bottom sent my friend up. Watched him clime till he started his turn then reached down to open the hood to cool the sled down.
Look back up to see him fly over the snow wall about 20/25 feet in the air come down plant his sled & leggs then cartwheel twice then the avy started to over take him. As i watched him bob up and down in the snow he put his arms& leggs out to make him self bigger this seamed to keep him on the top THANK GOD when i got to him he told me he had broke his leg. His sled was buried put one side panel i asked if he wanted for me to use the SPOT 911 and get the helley in for him. NO were is my sled dig it out and we will ride out put a splint on my leg and we fill get out. After getting his sled out splintting his leg we headed out with out a wine or sound out of him. He rode out of the bowls, down the hill to the trail & still not a word about hurting.
On the trail the snow got so soft on the sides we got both sleds buried, then
got out of this and finely back to the truck 11 miles later and still not a word about pain. Got him to the hospital about 31/2 hr later he's broke his leg in three places and now he says it's starting to hurt. THIS IS ONE TOUGH SOME #### . Thank god we took are avy class again this year and evey year as the training paid off. I had my pack off shovel out avy beacon turned to surch befor the avy got stopped. And i was heading for him.
THANK GOD HE IS OK this could have turn out a lot worse.
So to all the riders out there take the avy course, get a beacon , and the spot so you can get help there as soon as you can
FF

your buddy is tough..hats off to him...

 

[newmy1]

WOW, great to hear this turned out ok. He is indeed one tough bro....

 

[columbus]

I know I probably sound like an as$%ole, but didnt your avy class say anything about the effect of sun on snow this time of year?? In mid April, 11am is way too late to be on most aspects on a warm sunny day. Take more advanced courses and learn how to read the snow and weather and you wont have to get your gear out fast.

I admire your buddies toughness, I bet that hurt like hell. Having hauled out a few people with broken legs I know what you went thru, but good on ya for getting out on your own.

 

[Fast Freddie]

RIDEING LATE

I know I probably sound like an as$%ole, but didnt your avy class say anything about the effect of sun on snow this time of year?? In mid April, 11am is way too late to be on most aspects on a warm sunny day. Take more advanced courses and learn how to read the snow and weather and you wont have to get your gear out fast.

I admire your buddies toughness, I bet that hurt like hell. Having hauled out a few people with broken legs I know what you went thru, but good on ya for getting out on your own.

We new it was a close call to be out put was trying to get the last ride in. We was going to take two or three runs at it then get out, try to be off the
hill by noon. Snow semed to be ok, as at 10,000 feet it stays a bit colder.
And yes we know about the effect the sun has on the snow this time of year. My buddie is the toughes person i know hands down, my self i would have had the helley call in for me.
FF

 

[columbus]

I notice you said you had your pack off and beacon on search before the slide stopped. When your partner is caught in a slide, the most important thing to do is keep your eyes on them until the slide stops. If they are buried and you can start your search from the point where they were last seen, you will find them much faster as your search area is already narrowed down. If you are digging thru your pack as the slide is happening, you are likely to lose sight of them early and your search area will be much larger. This is especially important with a single searcher as you can only cover so much ground so fast.

I dont mean to pick ya apart, just want good information out there

 

[theultrarider]

Thanks for posting this up even though you are sure to catch some heat over it. I glad your freind has lived to ride another day. Too many people are too quick these days to call for the chopper. What did we ever do before cell phones spots??? Ride smarter? Take care of our own? Don't rely on electronics guys. They don't always work!

 

[Fast Freddie]

I notice you said you had your pack off and beacon on search before the slide stopped. When your partner is caught in a slide, the most important thing to do is keep your eyes on them until the slide stops. If they are buried and you can start your search from the point where they were last seen, you will find them much faster as your search area is already narrowed down. If you are digging thru your pack as the slide is happening, you are likely to lose sight of them early and your search area will be much larger. This is especially important with a single searcher as you can only cover so much ground so fast.

I dont mean to pick ya apart, just want good information out there

I did not take my eyes off of him the hole time i was getting my pack off or shovel out, nor turning my beacon to search. NOT TO BE A A$$ but if every body takes the class this is one of the things you learn. NOT TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF THEM. Sorry for not going in to more detail for those that want to pick this story apart. Are riding partners are VERY SAFE & look twice befor we go, get the avy report, look at snow tell sites, beacons , spots and all the gear to spend a few nights out if we had to. But no matter how well you are
prepared THERE IS STILL THAT CHANCE THAT **** HAPPENS !!!
FF

 

[backcountryislife]

I know I probably sound like an as$%ole, but didnt your avy class say anything about the effect of sun on snow this time of year?? In mid April, 11am is way too late to be on most aspects on a warm sunny day. Take more advanced courses and learn how to read the snow and weather and you wont have to get your gear out fast.

I admire your buddies toughness, I bet that hurt like hell. Having hauled out a few people with broken legs I know what you went thru, but good on ya for getting out on your own.

So you don't ride past 11 in the spring?

I see your point, but there's no way that I'm staying off of any slope after 10:00 am. In the spring we don't even go out till 10:30 because we want to ride when it's softer. Of course there is danger, just like the rest of the season.

 

[Fast Freddie]

Update

Hey Bros. My buddie is doing OK he's at home now. He ended up with his lower right leg broke 4 times, maine bone twice, shin bone twice. Spent two weeks in the hospital now he's home still laid up in bed, but hopes to be able to get around in a week. He had to have a skin graph and is on a wound vac to help out with the leg. But his spirits are high and wants to get out on the 4 wheelers. I think he's going to need to wait a month or two. But he won't
FF