Yes, Doug, I was reacting to the earliest reports, before the true stories
came out. They were all experienced mountain riders, and almost every one
of them was equipped with a beacon. Friday's avalanche report put the risk
at "moderate" but could change quickly if the right conditions were to
happen. The right conditions happened, and it went from moderate to extreme
in a couple of hours. That is how fast things can change in the mountains
here.
Like you, I quit doing the extreme riding a few years ago. I'm fifty one
this year and it hurts everywhere after getting banged around on a sled even
trail riding now....
Quote:
>> This is what happens when nobody has the proper gear (avalanche beacons),
>> nobody has had any training, and nobody heeded the extreme avalanche
>> warnings posted all weekend....
>> I feel for the people of Sparwood ( a neighboring town ). This is a
>> sledding community and very tight - most people work at the mine (Elk
>> Valley
>> Coal). They work hard and play harder. To lose this many in one fell
>> swoop
>> must be just awful.
> The reports are saying, that all of them were well prepared, and
> experienced.
> Just shows that it can happen to anybody, at any time, when you go to
> play in the big hills, and nature has the last swing at the bat. I am
> just glad that my mountain snowmobiling happened 30 years ago, when we
> couldn't get to the dangerous spots (I quit going, about 6 years ago,
> because the old body just couldn't take it any more). Now, almost
> anybody can get to the bottom (or the top), of those big slide areas,
> and it seems to be fun to do that (fun, but not smart).
> My condolences to the families, and friends, but they went out having
> fun, doing something that they enjoyed. Hopefully, I will do the same
> (but I will avoid the avalanche areas).
> I don't, usually, use tag lines, in the news groups, but this one
> seems to be appropriate:
> Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well
> preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,
> shouting, ' Holy sh!t... What a Ride!! '
> --
> reply)
> Polaris 2000 500RMK