Tree Wells - NOT COOL

[CoyoteGirl]

We were riding Mt. Baker on Friday. GORGEOUS day with mushy, carveable spring snow. We were riding up a ravine where Brent cuts up the side and tries to hook it above a tree but the ski catches it, stopping the sled and sending Brent flying. I see this happen and look away long enough to get my sled to a stop, look up and he is GONE. But he's yelling at me that he's ok. HUH??? Then he says "I'm down in the treewell!" I hoof it up the hill to him, look over hte edge and first thing I see is his feet! Look 10' down and see his body and head. His backpack is hung up and he can't move an inch. It took us a good 5 minutes (or more?) to dig him out, the snow was compacted to ice as we got further down. Since this wasn't an emergency, he wasn't hurt and had full capability of breathing we had to take pictures!

He was in there! This picture was taken after we had dug him out and you still can't see the hole!

This is the view from the top.

Digging down to him

There he is

His sled luckily stayed hung up in the tree and didn't follow him into the treewell.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

they are definately nasty and really seem to be opening up bigtime this time of year.

good thing everyone was OK and you got a picture of it, probably the most important part!

 

[AndrettiDog]

Reason #1,543 to not ride alone.

 

[2Thetopp]

Reason #12 to get a shovel like yours Brandy, that had to make the dig out alot easier coming in from the side like that with a chopping action, I want one. Brent looks pretty calm, must be from all the avy training, keep a cool head. I could see how panic could set in, imagine he wasn't happy though. "Jane get me off this thing"

 

[Arctic Thunder]

What kind of blue-tooth thing are you using?

O those are ear rings. Had to take a second look.

Like you said he was lucky the sled didn't roll in on-top of him.

Did the motor shut down? Just running and the Carbon Monoxide settling down in the hole could be bad also.

Thunder

 

[Scott]

Wow that's crazy. Sht does happen.

BTW, B, WTF is up with the fancy earrings? You go everywhere dressed up like that?

 

[907to406]

yep thats how I wrecked my hood of my sled, only i was going down hill not up...glad he was ok.

 

[Wish]

That's a crazy predicament to get in! Glad you guys are ok!

Oh, and I LOVE that shovel!!

 

[Thistledoo]

Wow that's crazy. Sht does happen.

BTW, B, WTF is up with the fancy earrings? You go everywhere dressed up like that?

I was wondering the same LOL You wear those bouncin around in your helmet??????

 

[Jeff C]

Reason #12 to get a shovel like yours Brandy, that had to make the dig out alot easier coming in from the side like that with a chopping action, I want one. Brent looks pretty calm, must be from all the avy training, keep a cool head. I could see how panic could set in, imagine he wasn't happy though. "Jane get me off this thing"

X2

Brandy, can you give me details on your shovel? I need a new one that compacts down into a backpack, and this might be the ticket?

 

[modsledr]

Jeff,

Ortovox Kodiak Shovel...best tool EVER for moving a lot of snow FAST!!

Ortovox Kodiak @ SnowBigDeal

X2

Brandy, can you give me details on your shovel? I need a new one that compacts down into a backpack, and this might be the ticket?

 

[modsledr]

.....Did the motor shut down? Just running and the Carbon Monoxide settling down in the hole could be bad also.

Thunder

One more reason why EVERY sled should be equipped with a tether...all of our sleds have them.

I have eliminated my key and kill switch...tether only!!

 

[modsledr]

Reason #12 to get a shovel like yours Brandy, that had to make the dig out alot easier coming in from the side like that with a chopping action, I want one. Brent looks pretty calm, must be from all the avy training, keep a cool head. I could see how panic could set in, imagine he wasn't happy though. "Jane get me off this thing"

It was a pretty helpless feeling...took about 10 minutes from stuck to out.

I wasn't hurt or in pain, and help was there immediately, so nothing to do but wait!! My pack was dug in and I couldn't move my body...kind of like a turtle stuck upside down.

Like BugIto said...DONT RIDE ALONE!! If I had been alone, I would have been in real trouble.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

X2

Brandy, can you give me details on your shovel? I need a new one that compacts down into a backpack, and this might be the ticket?

Here's a thread...

I was wondering the same LOL You wear those bouncin around in your helmet??????

Yes, they do bounce around... make alot of noise hanging outside the helmet blowing in the wind. Kinda funny..... They are comfy, I don't know they are there, other than the noise...

BTW, B, WTF is up with the fancy earrings? You go everywhere dressed up like that?

As stated above, yes, I do! LOL I only wear earrings that are comfy in my helmet as I never ever take them out, until I lose them! Makes for some fun conversations when the helmet comes off!

Reason #12 to get a shovel like yours Brandy, that had to make the dig out alot easier coming in from the side like that with a chopping action, I want one.

Yes, it is much easier to move snow with the chopping action! And you move TONS more snow, I'd venture to say 4 times more per swing. And when you hit that nice ice layer, it's like an ax.

 

[diamonddave]

When's the next party?

 

[CoyoteGirl]

When's the next party?

For sure, August 20th. Might have one before that...

 

[diamonddave]

For sure, August 20th. Might have one before that...

You better, cause I'll be gone fishing mid July through the end of Sept.