sorry for the long post:
yesterday the province newspaper had this posted on their website:
In British Columbia, snowmobiling represents the final frontier of doing whatever the hell you want. Adventurers, for whom rules and regulations are an anathema, must delight in this reality.
Consider the following:
¦ A snowmobiler doesn't need a licence and isn't required to undergo any sort of safety training;
¦ Snowmobiles are not regulated in terms of modifications, such as souping-up the engine to overtake the most difficult of terrains;
¦ A snowmobiler doesn't have to insure the vehicle; ¦ Anyone can drive a snowmobile, as there is no age limit. ¦ Helmets are optional.
NDP safety critic Mike Farnworth thinks it is time for the government to look seriously at rules for snowmobilers. Public Safety Minister Kash Heed believes legislation is not the answer. Heed supports greater avalanche awareness.
We side mostly with Farnworth on this point. While common sense ought to be the guiding principle when driving a snowmobile, the fact is, these are vehicles and their operators ought to be required to follow some regulations.
It makes no sense that we are more regulated driving golf carts than we are driving snowmobiles.
Other provinces have age limits and/or licensing regulations. B.C. should, as well.
What do you think? E-mail a brief comment, including your name and town to:
provletters@theprovince.com
i felt compelled to respond, and the following was what i wrote. some of my info was gathered here on the forums, and i even paraphrased some comments made by other members. (i hope they don't mind)
In regards to the public reactions I have been reading about the avalanche in Revelstoke, it is clear to me that many people here in BC are very near sighted. How is it that people that have no idea what the sport is all about, feel that they have the right to suggest imposing regulations against those that do? And just what do these people think will be accomplished by imposing regulations? The backcountry is much too large and spread out to be policed effectively. There is no possible way to ensure that any regulations would be followed or enforced. Some people whine about the cost of search and rescue for the taxpayers, but you obviously haven't put any thought into what it would cost to police the entire BC backcountry.
Venturing into the backcountry by any means carries with it a certain amount of inherent risk. There is no question about the fact that the backcountry can be a dangerous place. Last winter a group of cross country skiers managed to have an even more deadly experience than what happened this past weekend, and earlier this year a man and his son's friend died while skiing out of bounds. So far no one is calling for regulation of these activities, and that is because no amount of regulation would have saved these people. Much like the fact that there are still deaths on our highways despite the fact that we have many laws and regulations pertaining to automotive travel.
Education, experience, and preparedness are the factors that allow backcountry enthusiasts to safely enjoy their sport. I can tell you that within the snowmobiling community, there is already excellent involvement with education and preparedness. The swift rescue effort by the people on Turbo Mountain that day, and the presence of all the necessary safety equipment is a testament to how well educated and prepared the majority of riders are. There was much more potential for much more tragedy, but these peoples actions most definitely saved the lives of countless others.
However, there is still the question of, "why did this happen", and "why did these people not heed the warnings". For one thing, I was not there that day, so I am not going to tell you what was wrong. I was not personally there to assess the conditions and make a judgement call. What I can tell you is that when an avalanche warning is issued, it is NOT a death sentence for anyone that sets foot in the backcountry. Despite general unstable snow conditions, people can quite safely venture into the alpine and enjoy areas that are not steep enough to slide, or areas that are deemed stable after a snow assessment has been performed. Many factors affect snow stability and that stability can be different from one slope to the next. If the riders on the mountain assessed the terrain and decided to ride it, that is their choice and they are responsible for their own actions. Riders must adhere to some basic backcountry rules, such as one rider on a slope at a time, avoid terrain traps, and stay out of the path of potential slide run-outs. These basics can be taught in the classroom, but mountain experience is where these concepts really sink in.
Mountain experience is possibly the one area of safety that can use some improvement and it will always be that way. No one can ever possibly know all that there is to know about the mountains. There is always something more to learn. Also, big mountain snowmobiling is still a relatively young sport, and the its not even certain if the limits have been achieved yet. Riders from 10 years ago would never have dreamed about where the sleds of today are capable of going. New territory means new potential hazards. That also goes for familiarity of terrain. The more experience a person has in one area, the more familiar they will be with the potential hazards. I don't mean to point any fingers, but if you look at most backcountry incidents, no matter what the sport, they often (but certainly not always) involve people that are not from BC, do not live in mountainous areas, and do not get the experience that would help them make the best decision possible for a given set of circumstances. Couple that with the excitement of being on vacation and being in new exciting terrain, and with friends... It becomes easy for one to have his judgement become clouded.
And for those of you looking for someone to blame for all of this, here are few facts that the media has be misinforming you all about thus far: The activities that were happening at the time of this incident were not a part of the Big Iron Shootout. This was a group of people out riding and gathering on their own, in a completely different part of the mountains. The day's races were already over, and the event organizer was not even present when this happened. These people were at this location on their own accord, and made their own decisions to park where they did, and climb the mountain where they did.
In conclusion, it is this sledder's opinion that sports such as snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, mountain biking, horse riding, and etc. comes down to the participants personal risk assessment and level of risk tolerance. The appeal is the ability to exercise the freedom of choice. To have regulations imposed on participants would be a violation of free will. That fact does not sit well with me, and and it is unfair to have any any decisions made about regulation without the consent of the people that actively pursue the sports in question. Any talks and decisions made about the future of our sport must include the BC Snowmobile Association and its members, and not the uninformed media whiners and politicians.
