Poor Choice Results In More Avalanche Death

[Rock Star]

I want....

I want the best track I can get for the deep snow
I want better skis
I want more HP
I want tall and narrow Fly bars
I want untracked every day I can
I want NOS
I want...

to ride again. I want to come home unhurt. I want to never look a widow in the eyes again, I want to be armed with all the knowledge I need to ride every day I have off safely. I want to climb the biggest hill I can when the conditions allow. I want to be able to talk new friends into riding.

I want every chance I can to survive a real accident. I want to never see a friend die.

I want as many as possible to realize you can have it all. Daily riding and safety. I want to not lose another from here, from my town or from a town far off.

I want you to think about the dog. he/she would miss you if no one else does.

I just want to ride with my friends over and over and over again.

I miss Animal a lot. His mistake cheated his family, his friends and even himself out of years. I often think Man would he be loving this snow!!!! but he isn't.

Exersise at least some caution and you can do it until you're old like me and the only thing that keeps you off the snow is your bad back, a cold day or a hot lady!

I just want you all to be OK!!!!

 

[Coxy]

Rockstar... One of the best posts read in a long time sir. Good on you

 

[NoSecondChances]

We all get the point....

Let's stop beating a dead horse....its already dead.

I have lost two friends to the White Ghost and have lost 2 other guys who have died sledding in various incidents. I have spent a long time reflecting on what could have been.

Everyone we lost is gone, they only survive in our hearts and memories. Don't drag anyone through the mud about choices, good or bad, after they are gone, what's done is done. That's just poor taste to disrespect the dead.

They were all stolen from us too early.

Their friends and family all know that they all died doing something they loved and this is something to take comfort in during hard times. I know that none of the Sparwood boys would regret their decision to go back and dig out their fellow sledder, even if they knew how it would end for them. I also know that their families would give anything to have them back for one final day.

Each day is a gift. This year has brought back a lot of painful memories and I survive by remembering the good times and I see their smiling faces looking back at me in the glinting snow.

RIP Kevin, Mark, Wayne, and Gordon.

 

[WFO or go home]

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"If a human is involved in an avalanche then mistakes have been made"

A quote straight from "A dozen more turns" and also from the instructor of the Avy training I've taken.

Pretty much sums it up.

So what your saying is that avalanches are 100% predictable? Cause that's what I am hearing, and I would STRONGLY disagree.

Every year we have this argument, and every year we accomplish absolutely nothing. Let it go.

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

So what your saying is that avalanches are 100% predictable? Cause that's what I am hearing, and I would STRONGLY disagree.

Every year we have this argument, and every year we accomplish absolutely nothing. Let it go.

WOW...
How did you surmise THAT from what was written there ???

If that's what you're "Hearing" then my friend, you need a hearing aid.

What I get from that statement is that somewhere along the line a decision was made by a human to go into an area that was ripe for a slide and a person was caught in it.

Nobody is saying that you should never go on a hill greater than 28* upslope.
What most are saying is don't do it when an Avy danger is high or greater.
Leave it for now and come back to it when it's more stable.

And I really don't see where anyone is talking poorly of the folks who have been caught or died in an Avy. Although I can understand where it can be misunderstood to sound that way and for that I'm sorry if I appeared to be callous about it but I never meant it that way and I doubt anyone else did either.
I mourn their loss and as far as the Sparwood boys go, I respect their decision to remain.

As for dropping this conversation???
Are you insane?

This discussion needs to be on every sledders' mind every day before they go out to pound the hills.
That way, the recent loss of all our sledding brothers really has served towards a great purpose to help save countless others.

 

[Beels]

So what your saying is that avalanches are 100% predictable? Cause that's what I am hearing, and I would STRONGLY disagree.

Every year we have this argument, and every year we accomplish absolutely nothing. Let it go.

Yup, because people keep dying for no reason.

Even if ONE person stops and thinks about it and keeps themselves out of harm's way, it's worth it.

 

[AKtoad]

Here in AK the temps have risen from 15F below to 35F and has been dumping rain and snow in higher elevations on top off faucets that look like ball bearings and to top it off we have been getting 30 to 40 mph winds with gust of 60 mph, the avy advice on the Chugach site is the old skull and cross bones. With that said I wonder how many cowboys will out in Bowl 1 in Turnagain pass on Sat. ? There is a difference between calculated risk and and just stupid and dont know the difference. Accidents happen and they usaully happen to good people but stupid uninformed people in my opinion are not accidents but more of a I told you so. In my experience here in AK I have found that a very few people in the hills have the knowledge and gear to actually be in the mountains. So next time out look around and see who is prepared and smart about what terrain your going into because if something does happen they are your rescue.

 

[Rock Star]

Bravo AR. Where he (WFO etc) drew those conclusions is beyond me.

To try and learn from ALL these deaths is not at all to disrespect those lost. In fact, Learning, preventing more...that is honoring those lost. We have lost a best friend and in his name we all got better at being safe, we support the Avy forecast center, we set rules, we will NOT ever have to face our friends family, who have become close to us, and tell then we lost another. THAT is honoring their father in my opinion.

and THIS is NOT about 1 avy in BC. this is about all of them everywhere that involve sledders and more.

Here's a point. any one on here almost would have been in seach mode and been hit by the 2nd slide in that terrible slide that claimed 8 good men. NOW that this has been seen and talked about 1. Most would evaluate and form a fast plan in the event of a similiar situation and 2. MORE people just will not be in that type place on that type of day!

"If a human is involved in an avalanche then mistakes have been made" 100% fact!

 

[theultrarider]

Aktoad,
Ihear you! This weekend is going to be a good weekend to stay home here in the Ak. But after 3 weeks of -20 to -40 below you know everyone is itching to ride now that it warmed up. The avy website reported the Alyeska ski resort nearby report 20 some inches of new wet heavy snow and 122mph winds. I'll bet they got another 2' today. Without a doubt, there will be avys everywhere this weekend. I sure hope nobody gets killed. You know there will be guys rollin' the dice, or just plain ignorant to what is going on.