Avy death threads are way to common

[Kevco]

Anyone who has lost a loved one in a avy can appreciate this. STAY HOME!! This has got to stop guys. Its hard to hear this so soon after someones death, but it obvious to me we are not getting it. Im sitting home looking at a HUGE storm right now jonzing as bad as anyone...It isnt safe to be on the frigging city streets right now let alone the Mnts. We talked to a Ranger yesterday that told us on of the fatal avys here in Utah was on a hill that was WELL below a 30' slope, he was burried in the fugging GROOMER this week near Soapstone. I dont want to do anything other than wake some peeps up, I dont know if I could keep sledding after burying another friend. Think about your families and ask yourselfs if it is worth it. The 2 avys I mentioned were NOT predictible? You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Please take no offense to this.

 

[SnowEater]

Condolances

My condolances to the friends that you've lost. While I agree that care should be exercised while sleding in the back country and conditions should be checked for safety, those of us that partake are aware of the risk though we never expect to die. But to just "STAY HOME" isn't really living. People die walking down the street in front of their houses. Does this mean we shouldn't leave our houses? Just my opinion. Please don't take offense.

 

[CatWoman]

If people are dying walking down the street in front of their houses, it's most likely that they were doing something wrong.....like walking in the middle of the street, instead of walking off to the side....facing traffic, or on the sidewalk.

No, one can't just hole up indoors. But for goodness sake, when the avy reports are saying HIGH avy danger, there are some facts right there that should raise a BIG red flag with you and tell you it's just not worth it today. If you ignore the facts, and still go out thinking that it doesn't pertain to you because you won't die....well you're fooling yourself. Russian Roulette. If you can find some safe/flat terrain to ride without being close to hills that will probably come down, then there is a place to ride. Otherwise, seriously.....why risk your life? There will be other days to ride, and you will be alive to partake of them.

 

[tar]

I lost my best riding buddy this week. I had a hard and long conversation with his son, who also is a good riding buddy.I asked him if he was going to stop riding now that his dad was gone,he said he didn't know.
I said "you know, your dad would not want us to stop riding because of his death" and he agreed.
We will keep riding! but we will be MORE carefull of whats happening around us.
We will take our kids riding, and show them all the places Danny took us over the last 20 years.
Take care, be safe,huge your kids.

Don't forget to wear your avy beacons!

Tar

 

[Kevco]

I agree with all of the above. Im not saying never leave. Im saying when the slides are letting go on all the faces and the forcast is high or extreme STAY THE FUG HOME!. You will have to look hard to find guys that get more riding then my bunch.
I know of a guy the quit after Animal died, I dont blame him and wouldnt try to change his mind. It was a while before i could go again. Its a choice we all make. Just take a second and think about who will be left behind.

 

[anchorman]

Good post Kev.

I know you and know that you would much rather be riding your sled than the LazyBoy today. I have to agree with you though. Maybe some people feel the old "it happens to other people, not me" thing or whatever, but I too have lost friends and it just isn't worth it. It isn't even so much for my personal safety or fear, but most all of us have responsibilities and kids/spouses/parents/siblings who care about us and would be devistated if we died today. This sport is my life, but it isn't bigger than that and it isn't something that I'm ready to trade for it.

I'm about to go make sandwiches for my kids and my neice (the other grown ups are out shopping). Maybe we'll have some fun together throwing Fritos at each other or maybe I'll just earn some "sled riding points" with my wife. Either way, I'll trade today for a pow day when its safer.

 

[Kevco]

A bunch of our guys went today, boondocking tree riding safe stuff...Now i wish I were there. Im doing the same watching football geeking out. Are we riding this year? You gotta ride this 6 you will die!

 

[msled162]

Kevco I am with you 100%. I have been into winter sports since I was born. Being a member of Washington state serach & rescue I know all to well how easy it is to be in over your head with the type of snow we all been getting this year. I really wish some would just leave they're sleds parked or like CatWoman said find some flat areas. People listen what is being said here, it is for real. Otherwise think about the rescue people that may have to bag you, we are affected by it.

 

[Kevco]

Safety gear is only as good as your judgement (I just made that up). Last year we lost 3 back country snow boarders. The families were able to bury 2 of them right after the accident thanks to our SAR boys. One family had to wait until spring to bury the 3rd guy.

The whole jist of my post is sometimes it is better to give up a day to let things settle. Then ride ride ride!

 

[Freak]

Here here Kev

 

[Idaho Slim]

I'm wit ya Kev.

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

Kevco, I agree that there are days when staying home is best, but on the flipside when the snow is deep and the sun is shining, there are always safe places to ride and have a good time. The area I frequent has already had more slides than I've seen in the last ten years combined. We're making a collective effort to stay a considerable distance from anything we think may slide, even slopes that we've never seen slip before. I've never seen the mountains as hazardous as they are at the moment.

 

[skibreeze]

Don't forget that the bad layers are probably going to be there for the rest of the year. I came really close to dying in an April avy, Jan snow was the bad layer and it washed out to the ground, even at the break. The mtn was inaccessable earlier in the year, so I was the first one to hit it. Also it wasn't until the 5th or 6th hillclimb before it broke loose. It was the largest avy that I have personally seen by far, not surprised since it was the whole winters worth of snow coming down.

 

[Mafesto]

Another point.
Remember many of us drive over 1000 miles for 3 days of riding.
So the chance of passing up a bluebird day of riding would be like trying to shove soft butter up a wildcat's a s s with a red hot poker.
That being said, recognizing the potential dangers is key in minimizing risks.
There's the obvious challenge, especially for us flatlanders.
I think educating ourselves about recognizing signs is just as important as survival gear.

 

[Kevco]

Another point.
Remember many of us drive over 1000 miles for 3 days of riding.
So the chance of passing up a bluebird day of riding would be like trying to shove soft butter up a wildcat's a s s with a red hot poker.
That being said, recognizing the potential dangers is key in minimizing risks.
There's the obvious challenge, especially for us flatlanders.
I think educating ourselves about recognizing signs is just as important as survival gear.

That is a good point. The thing that freaks me out is one of those avys that killed a guy was on a hill anyone on here would have pounded. Utah just got a WHOLE lotta snow real fast. The bottom line is if you get that "feeling" you should heed the warning.

 

[Twisted Boost]

Just be safe and have all your safety gear and know how to use it.. Agreed if the avy's are that bad stay on the road or stay home... Your family is too important...

 

[skibreeze]

Sad to see people still out there climbing huge slopes when the avy conditions are rated considerable and high.

 

[summitdude]

heres another no-no....dont ever cut a line above a stuck rider on a slope..even to help!