Survival section, anyone else want one ?

[Rprecision]

I have seen a number of threads scattered all over the forum from local riding areas to mountian riding. Alaska so far has the best ones.....

While this isnt the most popular topic it would be nice to have a section dedicated to this. It seems to be such a important topic to leave out

What do you think ?

Moderators

 

[theultrarider]

Rprecision,
Our Alaskan "what's in your pack" is a great thread. I and many others have refered alot of people to that thread when the topic does come up. I doubt the mods will dedicate a new topic to something like this, but maybe they will, or can move that Ak thread over to the general section where it will be more visiable to all. It is a "sticky thread" in the Alaska section and they (mods) could do the same to it in the general section...what does everyone think???

 

[Rprecision]

It just seems like such a important aspect of riding to leave out........................

or at least it should be !

 

[markeo99]

got a vote from me I am filling my pack and searching for that stuff right now

 

[theultrarider]

Agreed. So much of the riding that snowesters do is in the backountry where there is little to help other than your own group. Our riding style and locations is way different than that of say the hcs crowd. They most often have a short and realitively easy walk out to a road, and help. The boys in Utah got very lucky things turned out as they did for them this past weekend. I should not use the word "lucky". Sounds like there was a bunch of skilled and level headed foks in that bunch that made good decisions when things went wrong. It otherwise could have gotten very ugly for them. Keeping calm, and making good decisions is huge! Survival skills and planning is a very real and very big part of our sport for sure.

 

[johnny be banned]

I'm down with that!

 

[MPS]

It just seems like such a important aspect of riding to leave out........................

or at least it should be !

Definitely! I have spent a night out in the cold backcountry....my buddy was looking like a pork chop by the end of the night. haha...no I was ready for it....I had lots of stuff for fire and had an MRE. We had a huge fire and by the end of the night the snow melted 10 feet down. You need good sources of heat and food. I carry lots of waterproof matches, fire starter stuff, handwarmer packs, MRE, first aid kit.

 

[Duddin]

I dont know if my pack can fit anymore good ideas haha. I think that would be the single most important section on the entire site. We need to get more people educated and help stop the loss of fellow sledders.

 

[boone]

Good idea!! You got my vote.

 

[Rprecision]

I come from a survival background, it seems the majority of snowmobilers dont have a solid grasp on the complexity survival can be.. Its not a knock on folks some people are just not intrested in the skills and equipment....

I think this would afford folks a learning aid

 

[Rprecision]

ttt

 

[giddyup]

survival

i think more survival should be part of the ava. class. i think we all plan and try and to intisipate the things we need, i know i always go through the forum every fall and look for new ideas and ways to carry more with less stuff that is not needed. i think we could all use some education on this and the proper stuff to carry on us .
thanks for bringing this up i know alot of us are thinking about it

giddyup

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

Good idea.

giddyup not slamming you but survival is way bigger than just avalanche issues, and it's not just about what to put in your pack....firecraft, shelters, signals & first-aid/medical all play a role in coming out in one piece. Yes, absolutely, avalanche education is critical BUT as ultrarider alluded to, a large cross-section of SWers ride in remote backcountry where even if there is not avy danger there is ALWAYS frostbite/hypothermia danger if someone breaks down or wrecks and has to spend the night.

 

[Rprecision]

Since Serching the forum, I have found there is some good information on here....Could be a little more in depth, but what seriously lacks is one common place to find it.

The more people I ride with the more obvious it is some are just not thinking about thier survival.(most are prepared) This is generally aparent by the complete lack of equipment, even spare gloves, socks, granola bar, water, nothing.

In terms of risk, playing it by the numbers you are at far more risk of frostbite, hypothermia, exposure, Etc vs. a avalanche. We just dont hear about it like we do with avys.

Spindrifter, thanks for pointing out the First Aid aspect, I ment to include that in my original post but somewhere it was lost.

ttt

 

[hiflight]

Sounds like a good idea, we could all use a little survival training.

 

[Rprecision]

ttt

 

[m_beeson]

I go out pretty well prepared, but I could see a survival section being good for sharing thoughts, ideas, and products.

Green for ya.

 

[giddyup]

survival

i agree spindrifter, i was just thinking of all the talk on hear of more people taking ava classes that it would be a good think to add , i dosnt matter were you are if your stranded, you need to be educated and have the proper things with you to survie or make it not thet bad. it is suprising how many people dont have even the basics.

giddyup

 

[MtnDoo]

Sounds like a worthwhile addition to snowWEST.

Maybe SW could combine Avalanche & Survival and make one resource/forum.

MtnDoo

...don't forget to pack your tree-proof bumper spray!

 

[-Z-]

Sounds like a worthwhile addition to snowWEST.

Maybe SW could combine Avalanche & Survival and make one resource/forum.

MtnDoo

...don't forget to pack your tree-proof bumper spray!

Great idea it says survival below but call it AVALANCHE & SURVIVAL

I always seem to pack the tree magnet spray