This one is very bad.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/13/bc-revelstoke-avalanche.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/13/bc-revelstoke-avalanche.html
Avalanche in Revy at the Big Iron Shootout
- Thread starter zaskar
- Start date
Not sure where you saw 25, I am reading between 3 and 7. At this point there are probably people on here with friends who were out there, best not to inflate those numbers. Wait until the facts come out. Thanks.
Firecatguy
New member
were did you see 25 dead???I have friends from MN up there and have not hear from them yet!!!I found reports of 3 dead.....many hurt
On page 3, post 107 H2SNOW said 25 but thankfully those numbers are looking less realistic as new information is being posted. Thought and prayers for everyone involved
Last edited:
anonomoose
New member
From BBC NEWS
B.C. avalanche missing all accounted for
Search continues near Revelstoke
Last Updated: Sunday, March 14, 2010 | 4:56 PM PT Comments311Recommend164
CBC News
RCMP say they have looked for abandoned vehicles and canvassed area hotels and there is no one that they know of left unaccounted for following a deadly B.C. avalanche.
RCMP direct traffic at the staging area for avalanche search-and-rescue operations near Revelstoke on Saturday. (David Rooney/Revelstoke Current/Canadian Press) Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said late Sunday afternoon that police were far more optimistic than they had been that Saturday's avalanche on Boulder Mountain did not result in the mass fatalities feared in the first hours after the tragedy.
He said those people that police know were at the event have been accounted for and there have been no new reports of people missing.
A wall of snow washed down over a group of about 200 snowmobilers gathered for the annual Big Iron Shootout, near Revelstoke, B.C.
Police said Sunday that two men were killed in the slide, revising a report that three were confirmed dead.
There were fears the death toll could be in the dozens, but Moskaluk said most of those participating in the event appear to have made it safely off the mountain.
Witnesses said the avalanche appeared to have been triggered after three snowmobilers began high-marking — the practice of snowmobilers racing up the side of the mountain to see who can go the highest.
Police said they were trying to speak with the event's organizers, but it was not clear whether charges were being considered.
Thirty people were injured in the slide, including one critically. Moskaluk said 19 of the injured had been released from hospital.
The patients were at hospitals in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Calgary.
Search for snowmobilers continues
Meanwhile, the aerial search of the avalanche zone continued for much of the day Sunday. The ground search involving 40 to 50 people with four search-and-rescue teams resumed just after 10 a.m., once the area was deemed safe.
Kathy Berlingette, owner of Smokey Bear Campground Resort in the area, said the event was in a remote place and everyone involved had to use snowmobiles to get there.
She said the avalanche struck in an area known as Turbo Bowl. Officials estimate the snowslide was seven to nine metres deep and 150 metres wide.
Hundreds of people from B.C., Alberta and Washington state were watching the snowmobiling event when the avalanche hit around 3:30 p.m. local time.
The mountain was shut down as search-and-rescue helicopters and avalanche dogs worked to recover the injured.
Rescuers were still scouring the mountain after darkness fell Saturday night. The search was then called off until daybreak Sunday.
Revelstoke, B.C.
<IFRAME height=200 marginHeight=0 src="http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=revelstoke,+bc&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Revelstoke,+Columbia-Shuswap+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&gl=ca&ei=gECcS8y7EJTcNty5nOcN&ved=0CA8Q8gEwAA&t=h&ll=50.958427,-118.212891&spn=11.080987,17.666016&z=4&iwloc=A&output=embed" frameBorder=0 width=200 marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>
<SMALL>View Larger Map</SMALL>
Some of the injuries were caused by the force of cascading snow or from snowmobiles colliding, survivors told CBC News.
One man said the snowmobile he was riding was carried about 30 metres down the hill. When he finally came to a stop, he had slammed into another snowmobile.
He described the helplessness survivors felt that some people didn't make it out alive.
"I was at Tim Hortons for breakfast [Saturday] morning and talked to four guys, including one who didn't survive," he said. "We couldn't help him out."
Avalanche risk was high
Raven said the Canadian Avalanche Centre started warning people three weeks ago to use "extreme caution" in the region. A fresh snowfall Friday made the avalanche risk that much higher, he added.
Officials say the avalanche is one of the largest they have ever seen.
Adam Burke, a member of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, said he didn't take part in the Big Iron Shootout because the avalanche potential was too great.
According to the avalanche centre, there have been 10 avalanches in the area since Friday, when the CAC issued an extreme warning for the area. It advised people to stay away from any defined avalanche terrain and steep slopes.
On Feb. 15, an Alberta man was killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling on Eagle Mountain near Revelstoke. Another Alberta man died in an avalanche while skiing near Rossland, B.C., in early January.
Revelstoke is about 300 kilometres west of Calgary and about 400 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.
Last winter deadly for B.C. snowmobilers
In the winter of 2008-09, 24 avalanche-related deaths were recorded on B.C. mountains, making it the worst season on record.
Five of those deaths involved skiers and snowboarders. A total of 19 snowmobilers died in 11 separate avalanches. One incident, in Sparwood, B.C., claimed eight lives alone.
In February, a British Columbia Coroners Service review panel — put together to study the high number of avalanche fatalities — released its findings.
The panel found that in many of those deaths the individuals involved underestimated the risk of avalanches.
The panel made 15 recommendations, including greater awareness in the snowmobiling community and increasing the coverage and frequency of avalanche forecasts.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/14/bc-avalanche.html#ixzz0iCfzlR4g
Search continues near Revelstoke
Last Updated: Sunday, March 14, 2010 | 4:56 PM PT Comments311Recommend164
CBC News
RCMP say they have looked for abandoned vehicles and canvassed area hotels and there is no one that they know of left unaccounted for following a deadly B.C. avalanche.
He said those people that police know were at the event have been accounted for and there have been no new reports of people missing.
A wall of snow washed down over a group of about 200 snowmobilers gathered for the annual Big Iron Shootout, near Revelstoke, B.C.
Police said Sunday that two men were killed in the slide, revising a report that three were confirmed dead.
There were fears the death toll could be in the dozens, but Moskaluk said most of those participating in the event appear to have made it safely off the mountain.
Witnesses said the avalanche appeared to have been triggered after three snowmobilers began high-marking — the practice of snowmobilers racing up the side of the mountain to see who can go the highest.
Police said they were trying to speak with the event's organizers, but it was not clear whether charges were being considered.
Thirty people were injured in the slide, including one critically. Moskaluk said 19 of the injured had been released from hospital.
The patients were at hospitals in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Calgary.
Search for snowmobilers continues
Meanwhile, the aerial search of the avalanche zone continued for much of the day Sunday. The ground search involving 40 to 50 people with four search-and-rescue teams resumed just after 10 a.m., once the area was deemed safe.
Kathy Berlingette, owner of Smokey Bear Campground Resort in the area, said the event was in a remote place and everyone involved had to use snowmobiles to get there.
She said the avalanche struck in an area known as Turbo Bowl. Officials estimate the snowslide was seven to nine metres deep and 150 metres wide.
Hundreds of people from B.C., Alberta and Washington state were watching the snowmobiling event when the avalanche hit around 3:30 p.m. local time.
The mountain was shut down as search-and-rescue helicopters and avalanche dogs worked to recover the injured.
Rescuers were still scouring the mountain after darkness fell Saturday night. The search was then called off until daybreak Sunday.
Revelstoke, B.C.
<IFRAME height=200 marginHeight=0 src="http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=revelstoke,+bc&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Revelstoke,+Columbia-Shuswap+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&gl=ca&ei=gECcS8y7EJTcNty5nOcN&ved=0CA8Q8gEwAA&t=h&ll=50.958427,-118.212891&spn=11.080987,17.666016&z=4&iwloc=A&output=embed" frameBorder=0 width=200 marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>
<SMALL>View Larger Map</SMALL>
Some of the injuries were caused by the force of cascading snow or from snowmobiles colliding, survivors told CBC News.
One man said the snowmobile he was riding was carried about 30 metres down the hill. When he finally came to a stop, he had slammed into another snowmobile.
He described the helplessness survivors felt that some people didn't make it out alive.
"I was at Tim Hortons for breakfast [Saturday] morning and talked to four guys, including one who didn't survive," he said. "We couldn't help him out."
Avalanche risk was high
Raven said the Canadian Avalanche Centre started warning people three weeks ago to use "extreme caution" in the region. A fresh snowfall Friday made the avalanche risk that much higher, he added.
Officials say the avalanche is one of the largest they have ever seen.
Adam Burke, a member of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, said he didn't take part in the Big Iron Shootout because the avalanche potential was too great.
According to the avalanche centre, there have been 10 avalanches in the area since Friday, when the CAC issued an extreme warning for the area. It advised people to stay away from any defined avalanche terrain and steep slopes.
On Feb. 15, an Alberta man was killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling on Eagle Mountain near Revelstoke. Another Alberta man died in an avalanche while skiing near Rossland, B.C., in early January.
Revelstoke is about 300 kilometres west of Calgary and about 400 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.
Last winter deadly for B.C. snowmobilers
In the winter of 2008-09, 24 avalanche-related deaths were recorded on B.C. mountains, making it the worst season on record.
Five of those deaths involved skiers and snowboarders. A total of 19 snowmobilers died in 11 separate avalanches. One incident, in Sparwood, B.C., claimed eight lives alone.
In February, a British Columbia Coroners Service review panel — put together to study the high number of avalanche fatalities — released its findings.
The panel found that in many of those deaths the individuals involved underestimated the risk of avalanches.
The panel made 15 recommendations, including greater awareness in the snowmobiling community and increasing the coverage and frequency of avalanche forecasts.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/14/bc-avalanche.html#ixzz0iCfzlR4g
avy training
there is something to be said about avy training here. yes there were some bad choices made to cause the avy and where people should have been at the time of the slide, but for having 200+ people at the bottom of the hill, this slide could have taken alot more than two. it is still two too many, but because of all of the people that were not injured and had training, and packs with avy gear dozens of lives were probably saved. just think if 25% of those guys (50 people) had training , beacons, probes and shovels how much ground could have been covered. one link I found have video footage of a line of probably 15 guys probing without training no one would have had any idea what to do and this could have been so, so, so much worse. not trying to make a huge issue, I just started thinking about what it must have been like to be there and started going through different scenarios, it must have been a scary day...
there is something to be said about avy training here. yes there were some bad choices made to cause the avy and where people should have been at the time of the slide, but for having 200+ people at the bottom of the hill, this slide could have taken alot more than two. it is still two too many, but because of all of the people that were not injured and had training, and packs with avy gear dozens of lives were probably saved. just think if 25% of those guys (50 people) had training , beacons, probes and shovels how much ground could have been covered. one link I found have video footage of a line of probably 15 guys probing without training no one would have had any idea what to do and this could have been so, so, so much worse. not trying to make a huge issue, I just started thinking about what it must have been like to be there and started going through different scenarios, it must have been a scary day...
Firecatguy
New member
correct!!!looks like the two the died were on the hill at the same time...
"one was stuck on hill and one went above him" why??
sad..godspeed to those who have lost there lives...
http://www.globaltvbc.com/world/Survivors recall chaos after deadly avalanche/2682622/story.html
polarisrider1
New member
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL!
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Dear Polarisrider1,
You have received a new private message at SnoWest Forum from christopher, entitled "It's time to honor the Heros.".
To read the original version, respond to, or delete this message, you must log in here:
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***************
Dear SnoWest Member:
*In light of the recent avalanche tragedy at the Big Iron Shootout at Turbo Hill, I would like to draw your attention to the following article recently posted on the SnoWest forums.*
*Click here for SnoWest Thread. (http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212009)*
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212009
=====
Please feel free to distribute this message on forums, to the media, etc. If you want a pdf copy to distribute send me an email at susie.rainsberry@comcast.net
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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.
***************
Again, please do not reply to this email. You must go to the following page to reply to this private message:
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/private.php
All the best,
SnoWest Forum
***************************
Dear Polarisrider1,
You have received a new private message at SnoWest Forum from christopher, entitled "It's time to honor the Heros.".
To read the original version, respond to, or delete this message, you must log in here:
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/private.php
This is the message that was sent:
***************
Dear SnoWest Member:
*In light of the recent avalanche tragedy at the Big Iron Shootout at Turbo Hill, I would like to draw your attention to the following article recently posted on the SnoWest forums.*
*Click here for SnoWest Thread. (http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212009)*
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212009
=====
Please feel free to distribute this message on forums, to the media, etc. If you want a pdf copy to distribute send me an email at susie.rainsberry@comcast.net
=====
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.
***************
Again, please do not reply to this email. You must go to the following page to reply to this private message:
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/private.php
All the best,
SnoWest Forum
I read her post the other day also it is amazing... The guy that highmarked the stuck guy was not using his head.I was out west in the snowies and we were at lake marie hill climb there was a ton of fresh snow and the first thing we see out there on the hill is 4 guys stuck in the chute and dummies still trying to climb past them and highmark the hill. we saw one clown lose it on the way down and slam into a stuck guy and his sled,real intelligent???Have to use common sense out there or people die. Our prayers are with the families and friends of the dead and injured.