Do you tell your family/ loved ones about the avalanche dangers??

[Circus Midget]

I just finished getting caught up on the Fernie avalanche thread and was thinking about how it seems like every year I hear of more avalanche deaths. I've heard my mom say she worries about something happening to me while taking trips out west. A good friend of her's had her son caught a few years back, so I think that's probably when it really hit close to home for her. I know my girlfriend has worries too and if she knew about all the recent avalanches she would put up a heck of a fight before letting me leave on a trip next week. I realized I tend not to talk much about the dangers of avalanches and riding back country. I know the reports and risks, but I guess I'd rather not give them any more reason to worry. I'd like to think I use my head when riding, but it's obvious anyone can get caught without warning.

Do the rest of you guys tell your spouses/family about the slides/deaths or keep it to yourself to keep them from stressing while you are gone?

 

[wasatchrider]

nope try to ride smart and be prepared dont want anyone to worry

 

[jim]

They know avalanches are going to happen and that the sport I'm in is dangerous...I make sure they know that I take all the precautions and that I'm not going to hit anything over 20 degrees that day so they don't worry. Not saying anything, IMO, sets them up for worrying about me the whole day....letting them know where I'll be riding and in what type of terrain lets them breathe easy. I always communicate where I'll be riding and in what type of terrain...even if they don't understand the dangers I make sure they know that I'm aware of them and that I'll steer clear of the bowls and climbs till the snow is more stable. It's on the news...they know the avy danger is bad...I'd rather let them know.

 

[Mrs Snowrider]

The only reason you wouldn't tell them is if you are doing things you shouldn't be doing during dangerous times. It is always on the news here in Colora do. . . so there is nothing to hide. It is always best to be honest with them, then reassure them you won't be doing anything to put yourself and them in a bad situation.

 

[capen4]

My children and wife are in the know all the time I try to teach them what I have learned over the years because somtimes its just them and me out there. and we all need to know what to do. From summer time stuff and winter time dangers and how to use nature to get themselfs out. Some people have told me that I go a little overboard But I would rather get home alive evertime by going overboard all the time.

 

[jim]

From summer time stuff and winter time dangers and how to use nature to get themselfs out. Some people have told me that I go a little overboard But I would rather get home alive evertime by going overboard all the time.

Safety is always considered "overrated" until you need it...then there wasn't enough. At work I perform safety related inspections as part of my role...I get my fair share of eye rolls when something needs fixed yet also get a critical eye on whether or not I did enough if someone gets injured. Tough balance! But with family and friends there should be no question.

 

[Bubba700]

After having a friend buried each of the last 2 years, I dont say a word about that stuff when Im at home, I try to be smart and stay out of areas, catch some crap for it occasionaly but I dont care as long as I make it home. My parents and friends worry enough without me telling em about how the danger is stupid high right now.

 

[Ex-Member]

Surprisingly I had a lot of people at work ask me about it when I got in today. Most of them are in the dark about snowmobiling in general. I consider myself to be a fairly safe rider and explain to them a lot of their misconceptions, how riding with the right gear and understanding what causes avys to occur in the first place, then knowing how to avoid situations that could put you or others in danger.

 

[Yamadoo04]

I talk to them all the time. I also bought a Spot so my wife can see exactly where I am all the time. She knows that I am staying off the hills and therefore doesn't have to worry too bad about me. She still worries but she knows when I am heading back to the truck and when I make it back. One of the best things I have bought lately.

 

[Cyle]

Depends on which member of the family. Some I tell everything and just reassure them i'm very careful and that the avalanche course helped to know a lot more. I don't tell some simply for their own good that i'm even going snowmobiling. Seem to get nagged worse about the roads, got told once we should stay another day because the roads were to bad to come home.

 

[xrated]

my wife is very aware....girls are too young to understand. Though the 4 year old always tells me to be carefull, not matter what I'm doing. Making my first trip west this year in Feb and I'm all ready nervous as hell.

Even in my summer fun of dirt biking and water skiing, my wife again is very aware. She grew up with her dad biking so she knows the risks on 2 wheels. And she has seen me take some hellacious wipe outs skiing, so she wasn't even remotely surprised when I bruised my ribs this summer on the water.

And she's a good wife, understands I need fun and a break from family every now and then.

Now if I could just get my old man to stop worrying so much. Course he offered to pay for my avy class this year.

 

[Cyle]

my wife is very aware....girls are too young to understand. Though the 4 year old always tells me to be carefull, not matter what I'm doing. Making my first trip west this year in Feb and I'm all ready nervous as hell.

Even in my summer fun of dirt biking and water skiing, my wife again is very aware. She grew up with her dad biking so she knows the risks on 2 wheels. And she has seen me take some hellacious wipe outs skiing, so she wasn't even remotely surprised when I bruised my ribs this summer on the water.

And she's a good wife, understands I need fun and a break from family every now and then.

Now if I could just get my old man to stop worrying so much. Course he offered to pay for my avy class this year.

Avalanche course is the best money i've ever spent snowmobiling, will probably take one every couple years to keep fresh. It struck really hard when we were our on practical day and they pointed to a hill pretty dang far off and said "that's going to slide today" sure enough a few hours later it's down, two instructers went up to help, only one guy was buried and got out ok, except for needing new pants I couldn't believe they knew a hill so far off would slide, and it was in a really bad place that people shouldn't of been in.

The scary part was, this was last year in Valemount and the snowpack was pretty good.

 

[Bigrock33]

Since I ride with some or all of my family about 99% of the time, we talk about this constantly. My son and one daughter are quite aggressive riders but we work hard at making good decisions. My wife, other daughter and son in law are less experienced riders, not as aggressive, but still need all the knowledge and awareness as any one else. As we have already witnessed this year, you don't have to be on the slope to be killed by an avy. They are deadly silent with a helmet on and a machine in operation. During high avy danger, we won't even ride anywhere that we could be caught in one. It really limits where you can ride, but it is only temporary, death is permanent. Everyone be safe.

 

[irideabigpumpkin]

Make sure you have adequete life insurance! There is always the risk of getting in an avalanche, We all hope it doesn't happen, but make sure you have enough life insurance!!!!!!

 

[Himark]

I have talked in depth with my wife about this. I used to be an Ultralight instructor and i tell her I think its safer than that!

 

[Vertical_Escape]

My wife is in TX for the winter, yet she still keeps up with the news and weather at home. If I'm riding she always asked what the current level is where I'm going. She knows the risks involved and knows I will take every precaution to stay safe. That doesn't stop her from worrying until she gets the call from me that I'm OK and coming out for the day. SPOT is on my list of items to buy this season for that reason, help ease her mind a bit.

 

[KFD070]

Make sure you have adequete life insurance! There is always the risk of getting in an avalanche, We all hope it doesn't happen, but make sure you have enough life insurance!!!!!!

You're a Life Insurance salesman...aren't you!
I don't need to say a word to my family about the dangers involved with sledding. They see it all on the news this time of year. My family also knows I go way overboard when it comes to safety.

 

[NoSecondChances]

Avalanche course is the best money i've ever spent snowmobiling, will probably take one every couple years to keep fresh. It struck really hard when we were our on practical day and they pointed to a hill pretty dang far off and said "that's going to slide today" sure enough a few hours later it's down, two instructers went up to help, only one guy was buried and got out ok, except for needing new pants I couldn't believe they knew a hill so far off would slide, and it was in a really bad place that people shouldn't of been in.

The scary part was, this was last year in Valemount and the snowpack was pretty good.

Avy course if only good if the peron puts the knowledge to use. Some guys that have taken the advanced avy course and consider themselves "highly experienced" in their personal opinions. But they don't dig pits or look at the snow pack because their excuse is that each slope is different and conditions can change rapidly, they seem to rely on other information to make their "informed" decision. Its a simple case of over-confidence which is very unfortunate.

Your beacons and avy gear are the last line of defence, your brain is your first line of defence. If you use your head, you will hopefully never have to use the other stuff.

I tell my wife of the hazards and she trusts me that I will not do anything to jeopardize spending the rest of my life with her.

 

[HeadedNW]

As I sit here in Florida today , I did tell my wife about the Fernie slide and told her to be very very careful and aware as always ,today is her last ride in Mt with our daughter. She said she could fall and hit her head getting out of the tub and suffer the same fate but they would be sure to be extremely cautious and aware of conditions.

 

[irideabigpumpkin]

No, I'm a banker, College is very expensive, home mortgages are very hard to pay on one income, car loans are hard to pay, and life insurance can be inexpensive. I have two small kids, and find peace knowing my life insurance is adequate and the house and cars would be paid for, and the college educations funded.

You're a Life Insurance salesman...aren't you!
I don't need to say a word to my family about the dangers involved with sledding. They see it all on the news this time of year. My family also knows I go way overboard when it comes to safety.