Minnesota Avy story (reported by Kare11 news Twin Cities)

[Packer]

Was checking out the local stories this moning and seen this. Just thought I would post. Turned out good, but so easily could have gone the other way. Lucky, very lucky. Hopefully someone wont make the same mistakes and learn from this story.

Written report and video.

Minnesota man nearly dies in Colorado avalanche

Packer

 

[Spaarky]

Thats one lucky guy. Everything that they could have done wrong, they did and he still made it out alive.

 

[sledskiing]

BDUBS to the rescue

http://sledmods.com/forum/index.php?topic=308.0

If anybody plans on coming to CO to ride this season come prepared or stay home.

 

[Cat Kid]

People in our area have no respect for avy's, they think they can just avoid the problem areas. It took me almost five years to talk my group into getting beacons. I just went to REI yesterday and got our family a set of gear.

 

[xrated]

yeah he got lucky, not to bash but the article does say that he was the only one in the group with a shovel.

 

[Goin For Snow]

he is beyond lucky. The group saw his ski of his sled he was beside it! He said the nobody in the group had a shovel in the interview last night. His group eyed him as he went down the hill and found him.

 

[raceu4it]

from the video, all you need ito wear is a klim jacket and then you don't need shovels, beacons, or probes to be a mountain climbing guru.

 

[Goin For Snow]

from the video, all you need ito wear is a klim jacket and then you don't need shovels, beacons, or probes to be a mountain climbing guru.

You noticed that too? Had a closeup of the klim logo on the jacket. I thought what sponsored news segments?

 

[Powderhound]

I am happy that he is okay, But if you ride the mountains and do not have a beacon and a shovel YOU ARE A MORON !!!!!!!!. We have all been warned enough. This guy was the one person a year who makes it without a beacon. DON"T RISK IT !!!!!!!

 

[dragon12]

I have two problems with the story on/in KARE 11. Not once does it mention BDUBS as the one who organized the search and recovery of the victim. Had it not been for his training, gear, group etc... that guy would have died on that mountain while everyone stood around and watched because they had no tools or training on what to do. The second problem I have is people think that a beacon is superman's cape and it will save their life every time. The beacon in my mind is a corpse retrieval tool. There is more to the puzzle than just having the tools. You need the knowledge to know when to stay away as well. Thankfully the victim can go home to his family and live to see another day. That is the most important thing here. Nobody lost their life in this accident. Unfortunately, there are others who are not as lucky.

Why is it in a sport we are so passionate about, we lose brothers, friends, dads, moms, kids and such to circumstances like these?

 

[xrated]

another thing on this. Just reread the article in the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. The guy ends the story by saying he will only play on little hills that won't slide. Seems to me he thought this hill wouldn't slide with 1.5 of fresh on it and wind blown.

Maybe just maybe someone will write the paper and point out some flaws in the write up. Plus they have ki patrol saying highmarking is a risky idea, pretty much calling it dumb. But not all the skiers and boards that go into the back country and set of slides, that's not dumb.

But I won't write, as I'm in no real position to talk since I've never ridden out west.

 

[dragon12]

But I won't write, as I'm in no real position to talk since I've never ridden out west.

Don't be hard on yourself, at least you know to be weary of the situation. That will probably save your bacon when you do come out to enjoy the beautiful mountains with us.

 

[Ex-Member]

I am happy that he is okay, But if you ride the mountains and do not have a beacon and a shovel YOU ARE A MORON !!!!!!!!. We have all been warned enough. This guy was the one person a year who makes it without a beacon. DON"T RISK IT !!!!!!!

What he said. Also, not just having the equipment but knowing how to use it.

 

[bdubs]

I wouldn't trust the news story regarding these... I did a few interviews with these media hounds and no matter what I told them, wrote them etc. they still messed the story up. At one point me and this guy were buddies from way back in the day! It was to much!

What I am taking away from this is that, not enough people are prepared for a rescue out there. Where this slide occurred was a well traveled and used area and over the duration of the 2 hr rescue, 30 or more people rolled through, most were not carrying any gear. You must ride with prepared and educated people, pay attention to the weather and avalanche forecasts. Preach over.

To give Shannon credit, before being evaced he said he was buying a beacon and thanked everyone...

 

[dragon12]

I watched the video again and realized Shannon was a younger guy with a lot of life left to live. He might be down to 8 or 7 of his lives, but at least he can live to tell.

Grand Lake is a big tourist area, with all the rental sleds and all. Do you think that most of the people that didn't have any gear might have been on rented sleds? I wonder if the hotels, and rental places have any avy info available to their guests?

bdubs, I am glad there are people like you out there riding. It gives the rest of us something to learn from.

 

[Tommy]

Still can't belive people will spend all that money on a trip, sled or rental and not spend $500 on some survival gear. nice job to everyone who helped out this guy.

 

[SnowBigDeal]

BDUBS here's to you.