This is sad. Rumor has it there was a guide with this group. Why would they be climbing in these conditions?
http://ksax.com/article/stories/s2515706.shtml
http://ksax.com/article/stories/s2515706.shtml
Snowmobiler killed in Togwotee
- Thread starter sledr4life
- Start date
And why did "emergency personnel" have to dig him out? Buddies ran to get them instead of digging?
Seems like there's more to the story.
Seems like there's more to the story.
How very sad again .I agree with backcountryislife that there is more to story. Being a flatlander my self and learning through the years how we know nothing about the mountains when we start to come out is not good. If they were like me when I first started comeing out they had no backpacks with a shovel and none on there sleds. I pray the guild did not take them out with out the right stuff. Why would they not been digging them selfs. I tell my freinds they are not welcome to come sleding with me till they get the basic things that are needed. It always seems to be more of us flatlanders dieing out west. It needs to stop ! Im tired of them saying it will not happen to me.
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Buckshot700
Member
I was wondering where you could find the avalanche report for it? He was a good friend of mine and I know they always rode with a guide when they went to togwotte. But I still haven't gotten quite the whole story yet as to what happened. I was at cook city when it happened and I know when there is an avalanche in montana involving someone you can normally find pictures of the slide. I was just curious of what the hill looks like. I was just kinda wondering if the hill had a high risk of sliding?
He was dug out as soon as we could by the riders there not S/R.
I was not part of his group, was there with 4 of my kids. I have never been through anything like that before and hope to never have to go through it again.
Seedie
I was not part of his group, was there with 4 of my kids. I have never been through anything like that before and hope to never have to go through it again.
Seedie
The guide went out of his way to flag me down and told me "if you even look at that hill it comes down". I already knew that but appreciated him taking the time to warn me in case I was unaware. We had been in there the day before and didn't go near it.
Not sure how to post pictures, hope this works.
Glad to hear the guide was informative.
I used to ride with those that would not listen. Too many accidents, luckily no avys, but lots of unkowen drops and careless riding. Quit riding with them years ago. Riding safe and listening to those that know usually works out for the best.
Sad story. hopefully other will learn by this mistake
I used to ride with those that would not listen. Too many accidents, luckily no avys, but lots of unkowen drops and careless riding. Quit riding with them years ago. Riding safe and listening to those that know usually works out for the best.
Sad story. hopefully other will learn by this mistake
where is this hill at around togwotee in relation to the trails or landmarks
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Buckshot700
Member
That's good that the guide told them to stay off the hill, but from what I have been told it's the 5TH TIME !!!! that this group of riders has set this hill off since they started going out there. Now you can tell me they told them to stay off of the hill I will go along with that, but why would you keep letting them be your customers. I don't know how you could let this knowingly happen, because every time they went to togwottee they went through this same guide company. Yes they are my friends and rectluss and stupid which is why i never went out there with them and now I am very glad I didn't, but come on what any person with common sense would have steered them away or walked away and told them you can sign your own death certificate and not want any part of it. In short deadly decision on their part and certainly some ignorance on the guides part.
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Buckshot700
Member
the whole beacon thing yeah he had it on but the guide did not show them how to use it correctly. The readout was saying 9 ft and the guys brother that died thought that it meant 9 ft down from where he was standing so they proceeded to dig a hole 8 ft down only to find out it was telling them they were supposed to be 9 ft to the right. Goes to show how much good avalanche training and knowing how to use your equipment properly will do for you.
This explains a lot for me. There was more of the conversation that I had with the guide (before the slide) that had me wondering what was going to happen. The implication was that this hill was going to be brought down. In defense of the guide, I don't in anyway believe was endorsing ANYONE to go on that hill. Could he have steered them away? I don't know, but I doubt it.
I think there was and is a lot of regret about decisions that were made that day.
Over all I believe everyone there that day were good people out to have a good time. Mistakes were made, the price was high.
Seedie
You can lead a horse to water, doesn't mean he is going to drink. Sounds like the guide did his part in warning and telling him to stay off the hill, along with his buddies. I've been to Cook City and other places on guided trips with high avy risk and when the guide says don't f#c* with that hill, I take his advice to heart. When riding in foreign territory, trust your guides advice or whom ever you're riding with that knows the terrain. Usually their advice is going to be right and end up saving your life. Another sad situation that could have been avoided...RIP
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firecatguy
Well-known member
I have ridden with the guide in question here also been back to this hill many times the reason we are in there is drag race hill wich is next to the hill in question I have been going to the lodge 7 years now and have been told to stay off that hill was just there a month before and told the hill was bad news AGAIN!!!!!!I am trully sorry that this man lost his life BUT why is it a guides job to take a season rider who is on his 3rd trip this year and has been there year after year and teach him how to use his beacon? if you come to the mtns and have no clue what your doing...STAY THE HELL HOME!!!!!I have put many miles on behind the guide and he has ALWAYS kept us safe do what he says you will be fine!!!!like I said he told us year after year stay off that hill........
We are all adults here people. The ultimate responsibility for one's well being falls on us as individuals regardless of the circumstances. It is our own responsibility to gather information and comprehend it before we make a decision to move forward in any given situation. Even if this person received bad information from a guide, the ultimate responsibility falls on that person making the decision to move forward because he alone chose to do so. It is obvious to me that if this is his third trip this season to that area he should have known to stay clear of that hill.
Unfortunately for him and his family and friends he made the wrong choice and paid the ultimate price. What makes this situation worse for me anyway is to hear that his riding partners spent precious time digging an 8 ft. hole in solid packed in snow in the wrong place because they did not seem to understand how to use their safety gear. I think we all realize the time frame it takes to do that. Sadly I am sure his riding partners will have to live with that knowledge the rest of their lives.
<O
</Othis is just another in a long list of examples this year of how the wrong choices in the backcountry can change not just your life but everyone's life around you. RIP my friend RIP I am sure you will be missed.
Unfortunately for him and his family and friends he made the wrong choice and paid the ultimate price. What makes this situation worse for me anyway is to hear that his riding partners spent precious time digging an 8 ft. hole in solid packed in snow in the wrong place because they did not seem to understand how to use their safety gear. I think we all realize the time frame it takes to do that. Sadly I am sure his riding partners will have to live with that knowledge the rest of their lives.
<O
</Othis is just another in a long list of examples this year of how the wrong choices in the backcountry can change not just your life but everyone's life around you. RIP my friend RIP I am sure you will be missed.did you ever find out how to get the report for this avalanche or any other photo's?
Please see below:
http://avalanche.org/data.php?date=&sort=&id=561
http://www.jhavalanche.org/eventDetail/event/2887
This is a very good website to have as a shortcut. It has tons of info to help us guys that live here in the Midwest to help us be prepared when riding west.
Here is another website that is very good. Mike Duffy will come to your area and do a class. I went to his class and made sure I had all the equipment he said to have before I ever went west. Also remember to take a first Aid and CPR class. I was on my local Vol. fire and rescue dept. and we would do classes for groups all the time. You can also go to any Red Cross. 
http://www.avalanche1.com/
http://www.avalanche1.com/
According to one of the reports on this, "This is the second death in February of a Minnesota person on the same mountain in Wyoming." Perhaps, this is also something that should be looked into. Death occurring twice in a row on same location gives me the creeps. It is either the area isn't that conducive for riding or there's more to it than meets the eye.
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