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SAFETY FIRST, being prepared!

C

cbc24

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2007
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249
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gp
Hey guys and girls I just want to share my story, Im a 24 year old canuck from Alberta named Clayton Crozier. Usually we ride in revy, blue river, valemount, kakwa and tumbler ridge. Now I have been sledding for quite a few years and so have my friends. While watching the forecast eagerly itching to go back out we shot for blue river. loading up the sleds we pinned it back down to Riderz shop in Edson to meet with the crew and organize a roll out.

Arrived the first day the trip went as every other, wake up early, warm the machines up get dressed and go. It was a supreme white out but glorious day, I ride a 15 Arctic Cat m8000 and just converted it to the skiddoo style lay down post, so it was a day to learn the machine. All went well till my recoil snapped which was minor and noticed my floats were getting a little soft, "oh well" move along.

Second day, we start the machines and head down the trail, then turn right off the trail through this little creek and climb through the trees. It opened up into this beautiful mountain side full of little pillows and hits. So we do our thing, go pros on and WOT. There was one notable pillow near the bottom that I was eyeing up, so I did a little jib off the side of it (thinking to myself you can really nail this thing) so I hit it once straight on and went to play in the trees, once I got back out I made a good charge at it! It was the type of jump that you come in guns hot and it does absorb alot of your speed but shoots you up, it was beautiful. However the run in was getting worn out from us holding it wide open right before it. Judging by how soft the snow was when I landed (you would disappear) I decide to take another really hard jab at it. MISTAKE I caught air into it and bottomed the sled out (shocks to soft) and it basically slapped, double bouncing me into the air where my feet decided to come off the running boards. As I was going through the air I thought I could ride it out since my feet weren't very far off the running boards but as soon as I started to drop the sled went away and my chance to bail was revoked. When I landed the sled ended up staying dead still and I drove forward into the steering post. As I rolled over into the snow I thought ouch that hurt more than normal, time to stand up. As I looked down my right leg was gone, thinking wtf It was folded behind my back, then realization came that my femur was indeed broken.

Now everything could have been prevented blah blah blah but this is the important part:
-We did not have a sat phone with us or a spot
-A random guy on the trail would not let us use his
- The team did not have a safety plan on what would happen on such occasion.
-one of the riders did not know the severity of the break and the risks of moving it ( which I wont blame because I asked to get the leg straitened)

Now what went well was the boys checked to make sure I had no bones protruding out, and set me in a more comfortable position, from there I was wrapped in a thermal blanket and a thin sleeping bag. One friend stayed and two left to call for help. Now the other mistake was they didn't know who to call. Thankfully somehow they got a hold of Air Rescue one based out of Vernon.

They sent a helicopter out which unfortunately had taken 4 hours to arrive. My friends did the best they could to keep me awake, feed me food, and keep me warm (laying in the snow got extremely cold).

Once the helicopter came and the crew came down, I was pumped full of morphine and placed in a basket, winching me up a couple hundred feet of the ground. From there flown to kamloops where I had a rod installed. - This was 4 months ago.

Now I will be back on the snowmobile this season once I can afford the equipment and gear again. But I cant stress this enough, if you have a riding "crew" you should always have a plan set for emergency such as this. Cause we ride in some pretty desolate places, Help IS NOT CLOSE and it can be really terrifying. I will not ride again without a sat phone at least and first aid kit. Being able to keep calm and make a game plan is necessary. I was not too happy with the fellow who would not let us use his phone either. I would treat others the same as I would like to be treated regardless of the costs. I hope some one will read this and remember to BE PREPARED.

Also Huge thanks to the crew of Air Rescue One, I highly recommend donating to them as such a service costs money and their service is free. Thanks for your time and see you on the mountain! -Clayton Crozier
 

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Last edited:

Elkaholic4life

Twin Peaks
Staff member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Dec 19, 2013
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Portland, OR
Thank you for the story. These are the stories that help everyone be better prepared!

I can honestly say, I would have physically taken the sat phone from the (cant say the word here)

glad you made it dude :face-icon-small-hap
 

RanOutofTalent

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Dec 20, 2014
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Western Montana
Thanks for sharing your story. I am glad it all worked out. I have to say I hope the guy that would not let you use his phone reads this post somehow.
Shame on him and what a poor excuse for a human being. Why carry a sat phone if the entire purpose of it is for EMERGENCIES? Which your situation above and beyond qualifies for this. I don't care what his excuse was. That is exactly the type of person I we don't want to be part of this community we all love.
 
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