I agree with keeping what is most important in mind. Sorry to vent, just know how many of us have been here waiting for our loved ones to come home who have spent days up there trying to help and frustrated to have that not appreciated. This is truly a tragedy and we need to keep the memories of these fallen and thoughts and condolences for the families involved. The Interlake today had listed places where one of the victim's families would like contributions made to in his name, and the news had a long piece last night about the other victim also.
Bad Avy at Canyon Creek
- Thread starter dirtrider
- Start date
I haven't rode in this area in a lot of years, can anyone point out on a map where it was? We stayed in Columbia Falls and rode in from the east to Big Mountain.
Sorry to hear about more avy deaths.
See attached. I haven't seen it, but the circled area is the area the incident occurred.
First off, my prayers to all the unfortunate people and families involved. However there seems to be a lot of bickering about the rescue which is sad. I would like to make one point and you can correct me if I'm wrong. As a rescuer, I don't think putting your life in danger to rescue someone is the right thing to do. In the gas/petrochemical business we are taught to assess the situation first and when it is safe to do so, perform the rescue. The last thing you want is having to pull out more victims! Is it any different for these guys? Just my thoughts.
Thank God!! You hit the nail on the head. I am sure everyone is saddened by the loss of anyone doing what they loved. It is a tragedy indeed and we need to focus on what is important. Do they need more help? Is there some people still missing? Instead of worrying about who said what...lets all give thanks that there is someone looking. It could have been any one of us that might have been trapped or buried.
Lets not forget the tragedy that happened and those who lost their lives.
Please don't mis-quote me. I was one of the people checking people out at the parking lot.
Scott is our Search Leader at North Valley Search and Rescue. I did NOT tell you he had no authority. It is actually very likely he had some leadership role at the scene. (As we could not hear scene radio traffic from the parking lot, I do not know who/how things were being run at the avalanche site.)
I did tell you if you had any issues with a SAR member the appropriate way to deal with them would be to discuss it with a Sheriff's deputy. Unfortunately, there were no deputies in the parking lot at that time.
If you would like to follow up with a Sheriff's deputy, you still can, call the Sheriff's office, and ask for the SAR Coordinator and discuss your concerns with him.
Search situations can be stressful, and sometimes people are not as cordial as they could be. Scott does a good job of managing SAR missions and keeping everyone working toward the objectives. I am glad there are people like him willing to spend the hours necessary in training and at missions to help make things run as well as possible.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the folks who died, and those potentially still up there. Everyone please be careful out there.
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Why can't we all get along?
I would like to say in the defense of Scott,
That in fact the persons who came to the parking lot were indeed upset, and myself, and another SAR member told the young gentlemen that if they were that upset, they needed to talk to a Sheriffs Deputy, however there were no Deputies available at base, they were all up on the Avalanche site. Scott along with all of us that were up there were up there because we are trained in searching, and coordinating searches. We understand the publics need to help and we appreciate all the help we can get, however, there is a lot to be said for numerous hours of trainings, and actual searches related to Avalanches! We also appreciate all of the other SAR agencies coming together to our AID! Our prayers and thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones, and especially to their children. An Avalanche rescue site is no place for Egos and defiantly no place for anyone who thinks that one man can run the show, just remember that the one man has 15 or more behind him backing his decisions and has full trust that the right thing will be done. For those of you out there who think you can do it better, we welcome your enthusiasm, and ask you to join! Once again, thanks to all of you who helped and put sweat and TEARS into this search, I would be proud to work with anyone of you again anytime!!!!!
A PROUD North Valley Search and Rescue Member
I would like to say in the defense of Scott,
That in fact the persons who came to the parking lot were indeed upset, and myself, and another SAR member told the young gentlemen that if they were that upset, they needed to talk to a Sheriffs Deputy, however there were no Deputies available at base, they were all up on the Avalanche site. Scott along with all of us that were up there were up there because we are trained in searching, and coordinating searches. We understand the publics need to help and we appreciate all the help we can get, however, there is a lot to be said for numerous hours of trainings, and actual searches related to Avalanches! We also appreciate all of the other SAR agencies coming together to our AID! Our prayers and thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones, and especially to their children. An Avalanche rescue site is no place for Egos and defiantly no place for anyone who thinks that one man can run the show, just remember that the one man has 15 or more behind him backing his decisions and has full trust that the right thing will be done. For those of you out there who think you can do it better, we welcome your enthusiasm, and ask you to join! Once again, thanks to all of you who helped and put sweat and TEARS into this search, I would be proud to work with anyone of you again anytime!!!!!
A PROUD North Valley Search and Rescue Member
SAR 1 and 2 check your PM
PM???????your private messages
Back at ya Chix
any up dates?
The search has been called off. The witnesses still believe they saw two others go under, but with extensive searching, no bodies have been found. They also don't have any missing persons reports, so kind of hard to justify to keep going ($250,000 spent so far). There were some really BIG holes dug because probe poles were not hitting bottom. Everywhere the dogs had a hit was dug up. Places where people *thought* they had a "hit" were dug up. Not just people digging. As people dug holes, and still couldn't hit bottom in some of these places, then the groomer was used to take it down even farther. Unless a missing persons report is filed, there is really nothing more to be done.
Things were methodical and quite organized from Monday on. They had a great crew working on trying to find bodies. Skillful folk up on that scene, and they can all be proud of how well it went.
The area was fixed and groomed (not just the trail through that section), and opened back up yesterday. We rode up yesterday morn on our way riding, and it looks a whole lot different than it did Sunday.....but even with grooming, it's obvious what happened there.
Things were methodical and quite organized from Monday on. They had a great crew working on trying to find bodies. Skillful folk up on that scene, and they can all be proud of how well it went.
The area was fixed and groomed (not just the trail through that section), and opened back up yesterday. We rode up yesterday morn on our way riding, and it looks a whole lot different than it did Sunday.....but even with grooming, it's obvious what happened there.
Thanks for the update Sandy!
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