group back country rules to "NOT be left in the backcountry"

[line8]

I thought I would not muddy up the previous well documented left in the back country thread and add to it; but more of what do you do to keep from this sort of thing happening? I will add, I think I may have been very close to the previous thread while it was taking place. I did see both those sleds in a particular location and ironically enough, at the time, I was stuck myself. Just over a ridge, only about 75 yards away was my wife- who did not know where I was. Luckily she put herself on top of a ridge that she was visible from all sides and parked herself, with a couple others that were parked. I knew where she was the whole time but she didn't know where I was. My mistake was that I was just trying to get myself back on the move and didn't pay attention to my radio while she was a bit nervous and signalling the radio. 25 minutes later, she poked her head over the hill because she heard me start up the sled and found me there, literally 75 yards away. I'm glad she stayed put in a good location, signaled her radio to me, and kept her senses about her. Shared a drink afterwards, rode back to the truck together about 60 minutes later. What's your groups rules or plan if someone is not in sight for a period of time?

 

[skibreeze]

We try to group up in one play area at a time. Track it up and then group up before heading out again. We don't have a set time due to avalanche conditions and terrain. When it's bad, we don't like to even get out of sight of each other. We never want to get more than a few hundred yards or a couple minutes apart. Safety in numbers.

 

[winter brew]

Our group is terrible about sticking to any guidelines.... myself included. Knowing them and following them are 2 different things.
When riding from one area to another, stay in order and when you lose sight of the person behind you...STOP. If everyone does this it's impossible to lose anyone or be stuck without help for very long. I was taught as a little kid that I was responsible for the person behind me...maybe that's why I like to be last.
If you leave the trail to explore, make sure everyone knows and agree to follow or wait there.
When you get to a play area, keep an eye out for each other and don't leave the sight of someone for more than a couple minutes....in other words, don't wander off without saying something to someone about where you are headed....buddy system preferred!
Radios...on the same channel....with batteries.
Remember, if you leave the group and they don't know where you're at, some people assume the worst, spend their time searching and cannot enjoy THEIR ride until people are accounted for....a little communication goes a long way to having fun and being safe.....that is if it's possible to be safe and have fun at the same time.

 

[2Thetopp]

ALWAYS return to the last place we had contact, good to establish a (base) when heading into the trees or venturing upward. If after a short time no visual, radios are a must, GPS capable of tracking others are nice. Still nothin', you look until you find, and NEVER leave , you better have my back cause I've got yours.

 

[94fordguy]

Good responses. We will always move from one spot to the next as a group and will rarely get out of sight of at least 1 other member of the group... if so only for a few minutes. Radios on and on the same channel, and as mentioned, return to the last place you saw a person (or a nearby landmark that you are all familiar with) if you do get separated. NEVER EVEN CONSIDER LEAVING unless you are together for any reason... You never know what can happen to your buddy if you leave, or if something happens to you.

Keep in mind the terrain that you are in and the dangers that come with it (present or not). One small mistake in the back country could be huge, especially when you are 10 to 15 to 20 to even 30 miles away from your truck.

 

[line8]

All of these things seem so easy in text and they really are when out. But, it is also as easy to disappear or seem to disappear. It's amazing how many things really do happen or nearly happen on any given weekend in the mountains.

 

[smitty5.9]

being last

Like winterbrew, I like to be the last guy.
I am capable of leading the group but I think the last guy carries a huge responsibility and I prefer to "lead" from the back.

Great thread!!!
There is a lot to learn here folks.