A few thoughts to consider...
Get a comfy chair...this post is looonnnggg.
Randy & I wish to forward our prayers to the many riders and families that are still trying to process everything that happened last Saturday. We can't begin to imagine the physical and emotional healing that will be necessary for many people connected to this huge accident. The ripples from this will last a long time. The blessing is that snowmobilers are a tight knit group and the support within our community has always been strong.
Hats off to the riders that quickly became rescuers. Multiple burials in close proximity are challenging. Controlling a large rescue group is also challenging. It was heartening to learn of the riders that were prepared with rescue tools and the knowledge of how to use them. The losses could have been so much greater...
We have had a chance to catch some of the media coverage, and a few pages on the online forums. Opinions are all over the map. This is to be expected. There is talk of legislating changes to backcountry use. As sledders, we need to settle down and recognize that the goal of the Government and other authorities is not to restrict our freedom to ride, their goal is to reduce injuries and the loss of life.
Don't we have the same goal?
Many in the general public have called for actually closing the backcountry when avalanche hazard is high. While this might prevent some accidents, without education the Open/Closed initiative would not prepare riders for the less likely, but nevertheless, possible avalanches that may occur during a lower hazard 'Open' day.
We truly believe, that as in many sports and workplace accidents, the key to prevention is in education rather than in the creation of new rules that are difficult and costly to enforce.
As a community we need to embrace avalanche training and learn to use the resources.
Avy education...! What for?! But I've got years of mountain experience and why waste good riding days?
Yeah I hear you...but, what if there was even one new idea, one good idea that would help you to assess and avoid high risks... wouldn't it be a great investment?!
If you're not so sure, ask your family or business partner if they think that a little more education would be a bad thing. Those that still think that it is a waste of time and money...take a moment to consider how costly an accident can be, time and money.
If you're still not convinced, read these comments from past avy class participants.
ZacsTracs: Testimonials
Randy and I are passionate mountain sledders that have been teaching throughout western Canada for the past 10 years. We've even taught a few classes in Idaho and Washington and collaborated with educators from across Canada, the US, Sweden and Switzerland. Our knowledge and passion for motorized sports comes from years of serious off-road riding and racing of bikes, four wheel drives and sleds. Stock and modified. We are no strangers to turbos, nitrous, race fuels and other modifications. Randy has made sure of this!
We rode in the mountains for years without any avalanche training. We were certain that 'some skier' would just tell us that we were irrational and simply shouldn't be riding steep slopes. Once we were seated, we were humbled to find a sledder full of stories of close calls and fatalities, clearly showing us that many of these accidents were predictable and preventable. (BTW following the evening class we promptly went out and bought avalanche probes!)
The biggest thing we learned: being avy savvy doesn't mean we can't have fun.
Small changes to our riding habits can cut out a huge amount of unnecessary risk. We can still enjoy climbing steep slopes however education will help us to see the patterns and recognize the hazards. Timing is important and terrain is everything.
For those that are interested we have summarized a few points covered in the 16 hr AST1 program that may help riders and non-riders appreciate that it is possible to be a serious mountain rider and hill-climber without being viewed as 'reckless'.
We invite you to read on...never know, there might be something new. Even one new idea may make all the difference some day.
-There are 1000's of sledders out every week that are enjoying backcountry riding without incident.
-If a person looks at a typical season there are substantially more days when the slopes are stable compared to when they are unstable. Mother Nature DOES put up STOP signs. However, they are not red and octagon so it is up to each rider to get educated to recognize the nature's signs of instability.
-The number of snowmobilers seeking avalanche training is increasing every year. For example, Zac's Tracs worked with almost 1100 snowmobilers in tradeshows, seminars and full weekend courses this season, three times more than just two seasons ago.
-The whole community benefits from increased avalanche training. Our individual safety is often impacted by those we choose to ride with and other groups in our riding area.
-Choices of 'if and where to go' should be
based on the current avalanche conditions, not strictly on our past knowledge of a particular slope or riding area.
-Riders need to question
what were the significant weather events this season that may have created weak layers in the snowpack?
-Every season is different. We need to base our choices on
what is happening in our riding area on THIS DAY in THIS SEASON.
-Avalanches are not just a hill-climber's problem. It doesn't matter if you only ride the groomed trails. Many snowmobile trails and play areas pass through avalanche path run out zones. All riders need education.
-Education gives riders the tools to gather reliable information needed to identify risky behavior and situations, recognize available options and make informed choices to minimize the hazards.
-Trip planning tools such as the Public Avalanche Bulletins and the Avaluator, are the minimum resources that all backcountry travelers should use. These resources, and more, are freely available at
www.avalanche.ca/sled Bulletins are also available by calling 1-800-667-1105
(Similar materials are available for the United States at
Avalanche.org - Home Page ).
-Avalanche Bulletins highlight the weather forecast, significant weak layers in the snowpack, observations of recent avalanche activity, and offer travel advice based on the current conditions.
-Avalanche Bulletins
should be read line by line. It is the text that helps guide our decisions. To minimize our risk we can choose to avoid exposing ourselves to areas similar to those where avalanches are forecast or reported to be occurring.
-Risk can also be reduced by choosing lower consequence terrain. While steepness is a factor, other characteristics to consider are: escape routes, terrain traps, overall size of slope, and common weak points.
-Here is one way to consider risk:
Risk = Probability
x Consequence
x Exposure
-Practicing safe travel habits in avalanche terrain does not mean we can't climb steep slopes, however
we do need to learn to PICK AND CHOOSE.
These are just some of the choices that we can make:
- if we are going
- who we are going with
- the day we are going
- time of day
- purpose or expectations for our trip
- the community
- the staging area
- the elevation band (Alpine, Treeline, Below Treeline)
- the aspect (direction the slopes face)
- the slope
- the route
- the time spent in the exposed area
and the list goes on. Training helps us recognize these options and make the best choices for our riding group.
-the Avaluator is a trip planning tool that guides users to acknowledge the current conditions and the seriousness of the terrain before setting out for the day.
-Once in the snow the Avaluator also reminds users to be on the lookout for 'Obvious Clues' of hazardous situations. ALPTRUth helps us remember the 7 obvious clues.
For more info about ALPTRUth "CLICK HERE":
ZacsTracs: Obvious Clues
-The use of tools such as the Avaluator help backcountry travelers to resist the pressures to 'get caught up in the moment'. We need to be sure that our choices on the slope are within the parameters that our group deemed as 'rational and reasonable' during our planning phases.
For more info about Human Factors and F.A.C.E.T.S. "CLICK HERE":
Helpful Avalanche Safety Acronyms: ALP TRUTh and FACETS | Backcountry Beacon
*Great job to Powder Project from Wyoming for including the information related to ALPTRUth and FACETS in an earlier post on SnoWest.*
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Sorry for this long-winded post. But this accident has the potential to seriously affect our future mountain access. It is time for a shift in our thinking. It needs to come from within our community and not be legislated.
