Couple Misses Slide by THAT Much
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 5:03 PM
Pam Cooper looks up the hill to where slide originated – photo- 250NEWS
Prince George, B.C.- It was a close call for Pam Cooper and her husband. They had driven to the west end of North Nechako Road this afternoon, enjoying the mild weather “We just wanted to see what was happening with the river” says Cooper.
They drove along the narrow road that cuts across the cutbanks at the west end, and stopped on the flat a few hundred yards further, a spot that is popular in the summer for launching rafts, and having a campfire.
“We couldn’t have been there for 5 minutes” says Cooper “when we decided it was time to go get the kids from school, but when we tried to come back, there had been a slide.”
Sure enough, they were on the “other” side of a mini slide, that had covered the narrow roadway in about 3 feet of heavy wet snow. There was no way of getting through it.
She walked over the slide to a friend’s home for help, and by the time she returned, found her husband and also sought assistance. Their truck is on the west side of the slide, and it will stay there until someone ( with a grader) can clear the roadway. There is no telling when that might be.
The good news is, no one was hurt.
(at right, the snow from the slide tumbled into the Nechako River)
This stretch of ground is known for slides. In the spring, it is not unusual to see vehicles axle deep in mud as they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The road is not a commissioned road, so there is no one who has the responsibility for maintenance.
Comments
Good chance for someone to get some PR.
City folks in a wilderness setting. Lucky this time.
Could make some nice turns on that slope :)
I have friends who live out there, past the bad hill. It’s occasionally kind of hairy going through there.
Don’t they pack a shovel in the truck in winter??
Should not the headline read,”Slide misses couple by THAT much”? hmmm .. slow night
I have an uncle that lives out there. They usually take turns keeping the road open between the people that live out there. Small slides are nothing new and they’ve had them for decades, usually in the spring with mud. My uncle many a winter has had to have two vehicles for stretches where one would stay on either side of the cut bank.
From what I understand the regional district won’t plow the road from the other side as there is to few residents and its something like 20km in from the Chief Lake side. The city boundary ends at the cut bank and so its not the city responsibility either. Neither side will take responsibility for the cut bank road, so its left to the residents to keep it open. This is why its sparsely developed.
The spot in question is where we ride our dirt bikes up in the summer months… one of the most challenging climbs for a bike anywhere. PG should have a national hill climb competition there someday… it would be the best ever, and for sure get national recognition.
hillclimb …. great way to start more slides and close the road permanently probably….
roll the vehicle on sheet metal, get some good snowmobile and sled it over the pile.
“Don’t they pack a shovel in the truck in winter??” seriously?I think you would be there most of the winter digging out with a shovel…I would really look into road clearing if I lived out there. If it is deemed a residential area then the regional distict has no choice but to plow regardless of the number of people who live there.
I pack a kit that includes a shovel in my vehicle, want to borrow it??????
He spoke.
And what do you think would happen when the sheet metal with the vehicle on it would do when it came up onto the slope of the slide?? Well it would want to follow gravity, and it would slide right off the road and on down the bank. It would make a very interesting youtube video for sure! Skidoo would follow being pulled backwards.
Dig a line in the snow about 6 inches thick for the tires to fall into. call a tow truck. have him drag the truck over the snow. problem solved. about 100$ probable in tow truck fee’s
Gus, summer time its just sand. Actually helps to remove any loose rocks.
Thank you very much to the nice people who live out in this area. We did get our car out today. :)
I did have a shovel in my car…I never leave home without one. I have lived here my whole life and know that this is a very imporant tool .
Have a nice weekend everyone
Pam.
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