Could have sworn there was avalanche warnings out for most of the province this past weekend. Too bad some people don't heed the warnings.

I found out that just riding the trail can be dangerous, but at least we brought 'em back alive...

I do not feel sorry any more for those stupid people that do not listen to all the warnings. I bet they are thinking it won't happen to me. The ones who do survive should have to pay the bill for the rescue or recovery.

Yama, Bringin em back alive is the main thing.

To Lifsucks

I hope you have a good day and a beautiful life.

Spend $15,000.00 on a high performance snow machine. 2 3/4 inch paddles, ahh it should out run a avalanche.

Last thought... in total darkness.... should of waited for better conditions.

To Starbright
Thank you I will have a very good day because we do not have family or friends that would take such a risk. I think you must be a snowmobiler. I bet the rescue people are getting very annoyed by now, because they are helpless in some of these accidents now, must be hard for them not to risk their own life to help, they are the ones I feel sorry for.

from the article linked:

"it’s crazy to be out there in avalanche country without the only proactive piece of avalanche survival gear there is"

Shovels, location gear, etc are all reactive or mitigation tools.

This device was shown on TV recently by the Canadian Avalance Association.

http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101477

Should be considered as a must as part of the PPE for a snowmobiler going into the high country.

I just heard on TV by the avalance people that the conditions are so unusual this year that even experienced people are getting caught.
I would wrap them all in big woolly blankets, make them hot choclate and keep them home BUT they wouldn't do it
It is just plain sad for those that love them.

You're right Gus, it does not make sense for people to go out in harms way for a bit of fun and not equip themselves with the best gear. To paraphrase Hespeaks; $15,000.00 for the latest trick sled, plus a few accessories to make the new machine 'better', plus the helmet, clothing, boots, and a lot of people do carry the beacons and shovels, but appaerently do not want to shell out the bucks for an inflatable vest or pack. The reading I have done on those vests indicates that they will prevent you from being buried, as long as you pull the cord to inflate before you start to get covered up. I don't understand why you would not want to spend a few hundred more on a device that will most likely save your life if you are caught in an avalanche.
metalman.

Lifesucks writes..."The ones who do survive should have to pay the bill for the rescue or recovery."

Can't wait until you survive anything dangerous in life and get the bill for it.....LOSER

Posted by: He speaks on January 12 2009 8:32 AM
Spend $15,000.00 on a high performance snow machine. 2 3/4 inch paddles, ahh it should out run a avalanche.

Last thought... in total darkness.... should of waited for better conditions.
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Why do you bother commenting hespeaks, you know nothing about mountain snowmobiling or the people that engage in it.

Your comments are nonsensical dribble!

Posted by: lifesucks on January 12 2009 8:48 AM
To Starbright
Thank you I will have a very good day because we do not have family or friends that would take such a risk. I think you must be a snowmobiler. I bet the rescue people are getting very annoyed by now, because they are helpless in some of these accidents now, must be hard for them not to risk their own life to help, they are the ones I feel sorry for.
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Snowmobiling, skiing, boating, driving, walking down the street, reading some of your posts.
There are not too many things in life that are not dangerous. Do you think the rescue workers think the same way you do when they are pulling bodies from crashed
planes, trains or automobiles?
What difference does it make if it's a sledder or a skier or what have you?

Do you have something against snowmobilers in particular cause you sure don't whine about people that need to be rescued from capsized boats or crashed cars or............

They may be a bit on the srcastic side, but other than that, the Canadian Avalanche Association would certainly not think that they are nonsensical. A "macho" attitude, which is what I would think "he speaks" is suggesting is frequently the case, does not make for good survival skills.

"I have the machinery to outrun anything."

"I took a survival course and can now go into more dangerous conditions."

"I wanna show my son what it means to be a man."

"What do these people know about weather conditions anyway? I have lived here all my life and have been doing this since my dad forst took me out snowmobiling."

"No one is going to stop me from getting a high from pushing the envelope. That is what it is all about. Buncha whimps"

"Do you think the rescue workers think the same way you do when they are pulling bodies from crashed planes, trains or automobiles?"

Professional rescuers are just that, professionals. They will go into a fire or a fast running flooded river with all the caution they have been trained to do. Just consider the words of the two who managed to get out of the Fernie avalanche alive and did not go back to search for others since they thought th risk was too high.

In workplace situations it is not too uncommon for even trained professionals to die as a result of going into confined spaces. They forgot to check the breathable air and succumbed to CO poisoning or something of that nature.

There are daredevils everywhere. That is normally left to amateurs in rescue situations.

Gus writes...

"I have the machinery to outrun anything."

"I took a survival course and can now go into more dangerous conditions."

"I wanna show my son what it means to be a man."

"What do these people know about weather conditions anyway? I have lived here all my life and have been doing this since my dad forst took me out snowmobiling."

"No one is going to stop me from getting a high from pushing the envelope. That is what it is all about. Buncha whimps"
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I have been involved in backcountry sports all my life and know dozens upon dozens of people also into backcountry sports of all kinds and have never met anyone that thinks or has ever talked like the things you have written above Gus.
Wherever you are hearing these things is beyond me.
I'm thinking what you have written above are things you are thinking yourself and have no basis in reality.

The people I know involved in backcountry sports including myself have the utmost respect for our safety out there.

Most that get bitten are those that are not paying attention to the safety rules.

Just because there may be warnings issued is not to say one must not head into the backcountry.
Warning are reminders to us that do, to pay closer attention.

People need to stop painting everyone that enjoys backcountry sports with the same "you are all a bunch of idiots" brush.

If you are someone that has never enjoyed backcountry sports, you really don't have a clue as to what really goes on out there and therefore most comments from people like you are a waste of breath!

Hey lost, while we all appreciate your infinite wisdom, it is not your place to tell people to shut up or their comments are 'a waste' because you don't happen to agree with them.

I'm sure this will generate another pearl, so fire away.

I think that many of the readers of the postings on this forum could benefit from reading others' comments carefully. Try to understand what the writer is attempting to communicate before responding. You may consider this as a request, definitely not an order! Did I offend anyone? Hm?
metalman.

MrPG
You are the only pearl around here partner!

Did you see anywhere that I have ever told anyone to "shutup" ?

This is "OPINION" 250 and this is the site where you are invited to share your "OPINION".

In my "OPINION" many comments from people that have no experience in any particular excersize are clueless and a "WASTE" of breath.
In fact many of your comments are a waste of breath on any number of subjects ;-)

Most should ask questions and learn from those that have been there and don't pretend you know something about a subject you have never participated in.

Wanna be's are the worst for perpetuating fictitious information surrounding many topics.

lostfaith

I deal on a daily basis with safety in the workplace. The place of work happens to often be in the same areas as snowmobilers recreate themselves in during the winter and some ATVers recreate themselves in during the non-snow seasons.

I have worked with the Canadian Avalanche Association to help in develop training materials for those working at higher elevations in the East Kootenay and other avalnche prone areas of the province that woodland workers might find themselves in, especially during early spring when avalanche dangers are high.

I work with safety organizations, assessing safety in the workplace, and identifying high risk situations in order to keep crews out as the best case scenario and keeping them well aware should they need to go in for emergency situations.

If conditions are not conducive to safe work, people simply do not go in to work.

Whether one is riding a snowmobile to take core snow samples or do some silviculture surveys, or whether one is riding just for the joy of enjoying the outdoors, I see no difference. The risk is the same. The objective to come home alive at the end of the day should also be the same.

At least in my mind it is. So you tell me where I am wrong.

This is "OPINION" 250 and this is the site where you are invited to share your "OPINION".

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Agreed. How about using that all-important opinion of yours to do a little more than to name-call or tell people their comments are a 'waste', 'non-sensical dribble' or whatever.

Gus writes...
"So you tell me where I am wrong."

I see nothing wrong with your post explaining your work with safety in the workplace and the CAA.
Am I supposed to?

Alot of the avid snowmobilers i talk to including myslef are staying away from mountians we usually ride. Even the smallest of slopes are showing tension cracks. It doesnt matter what you are doing in the backcountry or during any condition if you loose respect and common sense then your days are numbered. I also think the media is fishing for stories these days and avalance accidents are the flavor of the day given that there is an average of 12 avalanche fatities a year. No different from any other year just this year the media is feeding off of it.

Very true Northman, allthough you can still get into many mountainous areas and avoid the danger zones.

Posted by: MrPG on January 12 2009 3:46 PM
This is "OPINION" 250 and this is the site where you are invited to share your "OPINION".

---

Agreed. How about using that all-important opinion of yours to do a little more than to name-call or tell people their comments are a 'waste', 'non-sensical dribble' or whatever.
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You see MrPG, if no one were here to tell the wanna be's they are wasting their breath spewing fiction, then they would continue their spewing such as you are.

Are you some type of censor MrPG cause the last time I looked this was a free country and one is able to voice their "OPINION" pretty much anyway they like.
If you don't approve of what I write.....
Go cry to your mommy, cause she is probably the only one who may care what you think. I know I don't.

Lostfaith

Convenient avoidance on your part. The first part is a backgrounder.

The last part deals with what I think are sensible approaches whether for work or for play.

"The risk is the same. (whether work or play) The objective to come home alive at the end of the day should also be the same."

That is what I was referring to when asking the question.

I am a full member of PG Search and Rescue
I have just attended the avalanche awareness course on Saturday at UNBC and as part of the SAR training have attended numerous avalanche courses including field practice with beacon and Probe.

First: all this equipment is to rescue a victim, not yourself. When you are buried, you cannot move. One great comment from the awareness seminar was if someone shows up to a back country event without the gear, give them your so they can rescue you.

Second: about 3/4 of the avalanche victims are the trained and experienced back country users with certifications up the ying yang. They are the most common victims because they think they can handle the situation because they have training.

Third: as a certified rescue unpaid Professional, I am thankful for the irresponsible and ill considered actions of rescue subjects because I get to take time away from the office and spend it in the bush.

Finally, I think our entire outdoor environment is over used and abused by way too many people. The best thing we can do is stay on the road and just observe nature.