Having Avalanche equipment does NOT reduce your responsiblity in the mtns....

[CatWoman]

Good thread Scott....and way to do it in a nice, positive, productive manner!!

There are a whole lot of folks out there that have grown up not knowing anything about avalanche awareness. There are gaps where the parents didn't know any better, so never taught their kids (or aren't teaching their kids). Or folks that took up sledding on their own, and with no real knowledge of the dangers the mountains pose. There has been a complete lack of education in the midwest until the past couple of years when Mike Duffy has stepped up to help out there.

As a whole, the snowmobile community needs to help each other, and our future generations of snowmobilers. We need to help to get the word out, and to encourage folks to get training in this area. We need to do what we can in a positive, constructive way.

 

[Clarke673]

You know what i allways say....Short tracks save lives!

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Also, if you see some one doing something bad, stop them! Like some one climbing up to help another one stuck on a nasty hill, climbing 2 at a time, climbing above some one stuck, going to fast on a trail, jumping the trail, or anything else that could endanger you, your family, that rider, or any one else.

You don't have to be a dik about it but you can politely ask them to be more careful. Inform them that you may be saving your life, theirs, and many others by simply telling them. Tell them they can go ahead and hill them selves, just don’t endanger other people.

That’s my greatest fear, to cause another person harm, its one thing if I get my self in a bad spot but I don’t need to endanger anyone else. I have stopped taking newbie’s into the mountains unless its spring time because its to much to worry about. I really don't want to have to call some one and tell them they'r son is dead because i wanted another run at it and he was in a bad spot.

Also, climbing above a stuck person should be punishable by being beat near death with a shovel.

I would say not taking newbies other then in the spring is wrong..you have the perfect scenario to teach them proper back country safety..dont let them go learn bad habits/practices..show them by example....

 

[Clarke673]

You are 100% right. I was out there teaching my girlfriend how to ride in the powder the other day but im still not going way out in the back country with anyone who is not experienced.

I had a couple bad incidents last year with newbs and its not worth it. If there is a big group and enough experienced and safe riders to keep the newbs from getting in to much trouble, than it’s A-OK.

For example, last year I was with 2 guys who had never been out before in Cooke. I was jumping my 600 IQR off a little kicker. I was only going about 40 feet but the pipe cracked out around the EGT gauge right before I hit a jump and I lost all power causing me to endo off the jump and I didn’t have enough time to bail. I was out for probably 2 min before they even got to me and I ended up springing both my wrists, ripping some muscle in my neck, 2 bruised ribs, dislocated my thumb, and messed up my teeth, E.T.C.

If it would not have been in spring we would have probably spent the night up in the mountains. It was a chore to get them back over Daisy pass, especially since I was all messed up and they were not listening to me at all. It took me about 5 hours from wrecking to getting any sort of medical attention which is a long time to wait being in that much pain.( I know im a puss and all…. ) If I would have been with more experienced riders, that time would have been cut in half or more.

Also, if I would have been with them say…. Last weekend and that would have happened, we probably would have ended up spending the night up there.

There is a time and a place to take new riders out and right now is not the time. There will be plenty of pow to ride in a month or so and by then we might have a base so they can learn in the STEEP and deep.

You can still teach avy safety with out it being peak avy danger. You don’t need their first trips in the mountains to have actual experience with avys.

 

[tundra twin track]

Did not engulf me

In response to V-Man (deposition Zone) the slide I was involved with last spring,was thrown in front of slide and the toe of the slide pushed on the bags with my legs sucked under and did not engulf me.

Was happy to have ABS when a mistake was made!
22 years riding the high country.

Have a safe WINTER!

 

[Stovebolt]

Great topic, good posts......

Thanks for posting the topic, Scott.

The more discussion and positive feedback from each other, and in the field - the better.

Good job. Thank you.

Dave Jankowsky
aka Stovebolt