Major Crimes? Avalanche Warning! Stay out! Close the B.C. border to snomobilers during avalanche warnings. Investigation complete.

It’s time to honor the heros.
Written by Susie Rainsberry
March 15, 2010

It’s been several days now since the tragic avalanche at Turbo Hill. The latest reports are that two are deceased and three are still hospitalized. The media is also reporting that there were 200 snowmobilers at Turbo at the time of the slide. The avalanche is reported to have been up to 150 meters wide and 10 meters deep. That, my friends, is a BIG avalanche!

I’d like to put some perspective on this – a snowmobiler’s perspective. Apparently no one in the media is a snowmobiler or is concerned about taking the time to gather the facts – not just the bad, but the good as well. And there is good to be heard in this story. If you ask a snowmobiler – they’d be able to tell you what that is. But either the media isn’t asking, or has heard it and doesn’t feel that the facts are newsworthy.

However, I feel these facts are the MOST newsworthy topic of this entire tragedy.

Saturday afternoon, following the close of the events for the annual Big Iron Shootout, a large group of snowmobilers headed to Turbo Bowl to make a run at the hill. As the riders lined up at the bottom of the hill, the mass of spectators parked their sleds and prepared to enjoy the show. As one of the sleds turned out towards the top, the hillside gave way. Thundering down the mountain it came – taking sleds and riders with it. This powerful act of nature happens in a split second. There is no time to react.

The time to react is as soon as it stops. And react – with speed and knowledge – in the midst of chaos – is what those sledders did. There were no typical first responders to this catastrophe in the immediate moments following the avalanche. Only snowmobilers. Those same snowmobilers that the media is painting with a broad stroke as crazy, ignorant, thrill-seekers.

As a back country snowmobiler myself, I can tell you that ignorant is not a word that I would use to describe those survivors. I would call them heroes! And justly so. In the midst of what may have been the most terrifying minutes of their lives, they turned their avalanche beacons to search, they got out their probes and their shovels and they started rescue protocols IMMEDIATELY – likely while in a state of shock. They dug out those that were buried, they triaged the injured, they administered first aid, they built fires to keep them warm until the helicopters arrived. These people were heroic!! Without their quick and educated responses, many more people would have died.

I am angered that the media is so eager to report this story that they are being so disgraceful to the victims and survivors. These people need support and compassion. They do not need to be stereotyped and degraded in the media or by anyone else. Shame on you!! Didn’t your mother teach you better manners than that?

I’m not done though – there is way more information about snowmobilers in respect to the Big Iron Shootout and Revelstoke that the media hasn’t covered yet. While they gleefully report that this is an unsanctioned (I’ll get to that in a moment) event drew 200 sledders (despite the grave warnings from the avalanche center), what they aren’t telling you is that there are likely double that number of snowmobilers who DIDN’T attend this year’s event – because of the conditions. Snowmobilers who DID heed the warnings.

As I was reading the snowmobiling forums and Facebook on Saturday evening, the same story continued to repeat itself – people concerned about friends who generally attend the BIS, those friends checking in and saying they didn’t go this year, or they were in the area but avoided Turbo Bowl because of the warnings and the conditions they were already aware of. You see, back country snowmobilers are often in the back country two or more days a week and already have first hand insight to the conditions.

Regarding the word being used in almost every story – unsanctioned. It is true that there is no sanctioning organization for this event. Not the town of Revelstoke nor the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club. However, just because it’s not sanctioned does not mean that it is illegal.

Snowmobilers often gather in large groups to ride with friends who are generally dispersed all over Canada and the United States. I personally rode with a group of 30 riders at an “unsanctioned” event in Wyoming. Oops! I also rode at another “unsanctioned” event, ummm, better make that two, here in Oregon. Rest assured, I am not a criminal nor are any of the snowmobilers that I know.

The internet keeps the snowmobiling community connected. There are 1,000s of unsanctioned events that simply start by someone saying, “hey – who wants to ride this weekend?” Next thing ya know, word spreads about how much fun everyone had and it snowballs from there (pun intended). They grow into these annual events…”same date next year?”

So, here’s what happens next – the date is set. Motel rooms are reserved. Trucks and sleds are fueled. Vacation time is requested. Then individuals, families and social groups all head into a remote mountain town. They buy. They buy. They buy a lot!! They spend money – because they can.

It is with great sadness that I have to dispel the myth that mountain snowmobilers are a bunch of rednecks. All you really need to do is add up the costs to outfit an individual – much less an entire family – with a sled and the proper safety gear. Since this article is really targeted at those individuals who are not mountain sledders, I will point out that everything – got that?…EVERYTHING, on your person and on your sled is part and parcel of your survival gear. From your gloves, to your coat, to the sunglasses in your backpack. Trying to save a dime in buying a coat is really not advised, when that coat may be the only thing protecting you from the elements if you have to stay overnight. With all that said, here’s a run down of estimated costs of the primary accessories needed to sled in the back country.

• Sled $6,000-$14,000 USD
• Clothes (including base, mid and outer layers – top & bottom) $800-$1,200 USD
• Boots/gloves/helmet $245-$800 USD
• Backpack (non-avy) $60-$120 USD
• Backpack (avy) $1,000-$1,200 USD
• Body armor (tek vest, knee pads, etc) $60-$300 USD
• Beacon, probe, shovel $250-$400 USD

This doesn’t include a lot of items, such as matches, radios, compass, fire starter, flashlight, and the list goes on, and the costs add up. It would be GREATLY appreciated if the media would STOP perpetuating the myths that sledders are ignorant, beer-swilling, couch-potatoes. Because it’s simply not true.

The fact is that mountain sledders do not fit a stereotypical mold. They come from all areas of the business world…from CEOs to millworkers. They have families and they are single. They are old and they are young. They are world-class athletes and they are physically handicapped. They survive corporate down-sizing, cancer, divorces, etc….just like everyone else.

The thing that binds us together is our great love for the back country in the winter. We are modern day adventurers. We want to get out there – in the mountains. We want to explore and play and wonder at the beauty. We love the snow! When it covers the trees, when it flies up in our faces, when it gives us a playground of vast proportions. That is when we are in heaven. That is when our souls glow.

We are not anything that the media will have tried to make us out to be in the last couple of days. We are so much more. It’s truly a pity that the media isn’t interested in shining any light on the truth.

The truth is - the Turbo Bowl avy survivors are HEROS. We in the snowmobiling communities – far and wide – are praying for the full recovery of those injured, in body and in spirit. And finally, with great compassion and sympathy we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who perished.

I wrote this and I am Susie Rainsberry, Oregon resident, back-country snowmobiler. I provide free and complete liberty for others to share and disperse this message. The time has come to stop the slandering of good individuals just because they ride snowmobiles.

I'm also a back country snowmobiler and have been for too many years to mention. I check the avalanche conditions before I go out and act accordingly. Test the snow conditions and stay clear of the obvious avalanche chutes is a smart thing to do.

Yes, all the riders out at Turbo at the time were probably heros in their rescue attempts and I'm glad most of them had their avalanche gear with them and knew how to use it, most snowmobilers would have done the same.

When avalanche conditions are high and the huge number of snowmobilers that ignore the warnings and went regardless are not safe considerate riders.

There are some riders out there that are warned of dangers right on site but they tell you where to go and then find themselves in trouble shortly afterward. Ive seen it happen on many occasions in many different areas.

Selling high powered sleds to beginners is an issue IMO and they should be trained on smaller sleds before they go to the mountains and attempt to make the "high mark"

I too was a beginner 40 years ago but started with a 300 cc machine and worked my way up. Selling a turbo'd 700, 900, 1000 cc machine to a beginner is just nuts and dealers should be posing the question.

A few again are going to make it tougher for others to access the back country now with all kinds of laws on the horizon.

Awesome post Susie. I'm not a snowmobiler.
What struck me as odd was that there was an extreme avalanche warning. Talking to the guys that blow avalances up in the Stewart area a few years ago, they indicated the howitzer going off alone will bring down some avalances and of course the explosive will bring down the rest. I'm just concerned, with that many snowmobiles in one place, surely the sound and vibration has gotta do the same thing on usually a smaller scale.
Three cheers to the heroes. Amazing what people can do when faced with adversity.

I ask these questions of everyone I know who is an "experienced" backcountry sledder.
"Do you dig a pit?" ; "Can you properly assess terrain?" "Can you tell the difference in a weak bonded layer versus a strong bonded layer?" "What if any are the tests you perform once you have dug your snow pit & begin to create a profile?"
Most of the time I get blank stares in return, or a version of "I don't need to
do all that, I've ridden for years. Besides I have all the safety gear."
Heroes? You gotta be joking. A hero is
a person who puts their own concerns aside
to help others. A hero does not willingly
put themselves or others, ESPECIALLY
children, in harms way. There was unprecedented warnings, they were told not to go there. Anyone with an ounce of
common sense would not have been anywhere
near that area. The only saving grace is that miraculously there were not more fatalities. Did these people act prudently
in the face of a horrible situation?
Certainly. Please do not label them heroes,
they put themselves & others in terrible danger by being there. The heroes are the SAR & emergency responders who went out there to aid & cleanup the mistakes that were already made from poor decisions.

detoe43 you are absolutely correct. It couldn't have been said any better.

Dictionary.com
he�ro
   /ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled[heer-oh] Show IPA
�noun,plural-roes; for 5 also -ros.
1.
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2.
a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3.
the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4.
Classical Mythology.
a.
a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b.
(in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c.
(in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.

wikipedia
A hero (heroine in female) (Ancient Greek: ἥρως, hḗrōs), in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion.[1] Later, hero (male) and heroine (female) came to refer to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice � that is, heroism � for some greater good, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.

I have heard it said that a hero is an ordinary person doing feats of courage, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life in extraordinary circumstances.

"The heroes are the SAR & emergency responders who went out there to aid & cleanup the mistakes that were already made from poor decisions."

I forwarded Susie's letter to the media as well....I think it was very well written and helped to dispel some of the myth that most sledders are just reckless rednecks with a deathwish. People can take it how they wish. It won't change their perception.

I have mixed feelings however about the avalanche tragedy. The warnings were very high, in fact 10 avalanches had let go naturally on Friday alone. These sledders chose not to take the warnings into consideration, or maybe they didn't know better....they were sitting at the worst possible location that you could sit on that mountain at that time. North facing aspect, with all that new snow it was a ticking timebomb.

There were mistakes made....one sledder was stuck near the top, another chose to highmark above him and that's when it all broke loose. The 200 + sleds sitting at the bottom had only mere seconds to react.

It is a true miracle that only two passed away in all of this. It took the organizational efforts of a few very knowledgeable backcountry sledders that came into the area right after it happened. That is what I was taught during my AST 1 course. Assign a leader to take charge, switch beacons to search, make sure the area is safe from any more slides and then do your beacon search, probing and shoveling. From the reports I have read most of the burials weren't deep so that was the miracle in all of this considering the snow was 30 feet deep in places.

Something I read today made me really question why some of these people even head out to the BC backcountry in the first place.....the widower of one of the victims said in an interview that "You know, the locals knew what was going on, [but] these are Alberta boys. They've never seen an avalanche," she said Monday.

This statement to me is very puzzling and it will only lead to tighter regulations of our B.C. backcountry.

My opinion is this: if you don't have the proper avalanche gear, the proper training (at least an AST1 course)and don't read the avalanche bulletins before you go so you can plan where it is safe to ride....YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS OUT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. Having a turbo sled and that fancy ABS pack won't save you.

Good post sledhead. I also am divided, but
leaning towards angry. The more details that come to light the angrier I get, because as sledhead points out, reckless
activities like this will lead to tight regulations.
If I could be so bold as to expand on your post to include backcountry skiers & boarders to the list of users that should
properly train & equip themselves before
heading out. I've seen skiers make some
very poorly informed decisions.

Its the back country. These things happen. No investigation or regulations needed. Its like drowning in a fast river, or getting hit by a rouge wave in the ocean... its nature and sometimes nature can do things unexpectedly with dire consequences... if people can't accept the consequences of nature then they should stay home. I think everything was done that could be done and no one is really to blame for this tragedy. They all to a person accepted their personal responsibility and that is all we can ask for in a free country. Restricting access to nature would be the real crime here IMO.

The media has to have villains, and they have to have heroes. They probably prefer villains, because evil and blood and guts and tragedy sells newspapers/air time/tv adverts more than boring old good news stories. Watching the t.v. yaps talking up the avalanche story from the safety of downtown Revelstoke, and listening to their blather about who might be responsible for the lives lost
makes me angry, their comments paint snowmobilers as a reckless, devil may care lot, the average non motorized sport enthusiast is likely to form an opinion about certain groups of people just from believing what they see on the tube.
I am very impressed with the thoughtful, insightful writing of Ms. Dragonmaster, well spoken ( or at least well written ) people like her are what we need to inform the masses, the media, and thereby the authorities that there is another, more truthful side to a sensationalist news story. Her words could easily be reworked to defend motorcyclists, atv enthusiasts, jet boaters, mountain bikers etc. I empathize with the outspoken widow of one of the victims of the avalanche, but her words and her pleas will only serve to restrict the activities of others, if the kneejerk reaction of the B.C. government is anything to judge by. The first thing I thought of when I heard that B.C. will be implementing new stricter rules and regulations on those who use the backcountry is why was this kneejerk reaction not expressed in past, recent years, when so many people lost their lives in avalanches?
metalman.