Near death! Life changing

[Skylar]

Ok, I edited a few things in some posts. I really don't have time to read every single post, and edit everything, anymore name calling, and I will just delete the whole thread.

I knew that as soon as reaper put this thread up, somebody would jump in and tell him what he did wrong, with out even knowing the whole story, or the circumstances surrounding it.

Now I don't know if all of us sledders have been in the same situation that Reaper was, I know I have, and I have a feeling a lot of us have. It is called a learning experience.

Maybe it is time I post a thread about my little accident back in Feb of 2004, was alcohol a factor, absolutely not, was speed a factor, yes it was. I have posted it before, and yes, people let me have it about going too fast, but, I bet every person who read it, made them think, ya know, that could happen to me.

So, lets just settle down on this thread eh?

 

[trailblazer]

Amen

 

[fatdaddy]

TB,

I'm asking because your profile doesn't say where your from, and where you ride thats all. I live in St. Paul, MN and have a cabin in Presque Isle, WI. I felt your comments were a little harsh as well. I belong to the Presque Isle sno bunnies, but that gives me no more rights to comment on riders as any none members. I just hate when people say join a club, we do more, I groom, I don't care. I work my tail off to ride and I spend thousands of hard earned money to ride. Members or none members have the same rights to the trails, period. I use to drink and trail ride, I use to pass people faster than I should, I've gone off the trail, and I"ve made many mistakes in life. I don't drink anymore, I've slowed down and I still make life mistakes. I'm human, and I think we all have made mistakes, I hope we can all start the new year with less blame, and learn to understand and have more compassion for each other. This is now a family sport for me, and I hope to see many wonderful years on the trails with my kids. Happy New year.

 

[anonomoose]

Well went and looked at this spot in the trail during the day with fresh eyes. Heres what I found. A single orange square trail marker, no direction arrow, no caution ahead, no keep left or keep right, no slow sign. This is a 90' corner in the trail next to the road. Now the club and landowner have marked the fence with RED reflectors, caution signs coming from each direction, and directional arrows. Thank you to the club and landowner.

From what you describe, this is a trail hazzard and one that should have even MORE signage placed well before the hazzard.

If you really were only half off the trail, then marking just the spot won't give enough time to someone else who might be coming even faster than you were. It is likely a fatality in the making.

Take a moment, make up a sign and put it 250 feet in front of the hazzard in BOTH directions to protect someone else from gett'n whacked.

You have a new lease on life, maybe there is a greater reason for it, and you could save the life of a sledder who might not be as lucky as you were.

 

[sabercat]

Lay off the reaper, he made a mistake and it will most likely correct itself.

Who here has not done something they shouldn't have? Whether its on a sled or in a car, mistakes happen. This just happened to be at a site with little room for error.

Anytime there are wire fences there needs to be lots of signs! Thats scary stuff!

 

[luvthetrails]

Reaper, Where were you at? Wis or MI. Things happen so quickly. You never know. A friend of ours was out NY eve headin for coffee in the morning. Going slow and looked back to check his group and hit a tree. He is ok, tore up his knee and gonna have to have surgery and probably out for the rest of the season. I am glad your are ok!

 

[reaper969x]

Thanx Guys, But none of you are as glad as I am, that I am alive, LOL! Not a funny thing but I have to keep some perspective. This Happen In IL. The situation has been corrected, lots of reflectors and more signage. This was a new re-route vs last years trail due to mother nature. I take just as much responsibility as anyone, too fast, two beers, TOOOOOOOO scary! This incident took the combination of several factors, not just one lone factor. As many things that had to come together to put me in that situation, also came together for me to come out alive. If I had not stood up to see where the guy behind me was things might have been different. All things that will go through my mind every time I pull that rope.

BE SAFE!