Close Call

January 8, 2008

Hello Lori I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that the training we received from you and Randy Dec.15th at Golden paid off this last weekend. Garry G myself and Bob S were sledding at Paradise mines by Panorama on the weekend, we started at Toby Creek Adventures parking lot we went up the trail to there warm up cabin about lunch time. When we got there about four tour guides with a bunch of sledders out for the day were making there guests lunch, we asked what the snow conditions were in the bowl and surrounding slopes behind the cabin, they pointed out the hazards along with the safe places were we could sled and do a little high marking. We were sledding in the bowl were the guides told us it was safe, but there were two young guys high marking in the most hazardous spot on the mountain, unknown to us these two cowboys think it is a big joke to set off a avalanche then ride it to the bottom. To make a long story short they started a avalanche off, Bob and I were at the bottom of the hill but not quite out of the run out zone when Garry noticed that they started the avalanche he hollered over the radio that a avalanche had started I was parallel with the bottom of the hill, Bob was going towards the hill so He was facing it straight on, the snow seemed to part somewhat around Bob when all was over He was still sitting on his sled facing the hill in about 16” of snow just enough that the sled would not pull it self out. Now me on the other hand the snow hit me full on from the side, I was trying to get out of the way when myself and another sled ran into each other, we were knocked off our sleds I was on my back when I looked up all I could see was white, I knew that I had to be face down to try and swim out of the avalanche like we were taught but I could not turn over, when I stopped moving I still could not see anything but snow blowing around as I lay there I did not know if I could move or not so I moved my arms which was easy so I tried to get up when I sat up and lifted my face shield the blowing snow was starting to settle down I could see that I was sitting on top of the snow as was the other rider that I ran into, I asked him if he was ok he said he was,not 5 seconds later Garry and the two fellows that started the avalanche were at my location, as the snow settled a bit more we could see Bob still sitting on his sled somewhat in disbelieve as to what had happened and how fast it happened. The tour guides from Toby Creek Adventures were there in about 2 minutes, and wanted to know if there was any body else on the hill, we assured them that we were all accounted for. I just want to thank you and Randy for the great work you are doing teaching the awareness of avalanches not only for myself trying to do what I was taught, but for Garry who already had a game plan set in motion as to what everybody was to do in the search efforts when the snow settled and they knew it was safe for them to come to our rescue. I know that this is as close as I ever want to be in a avalanche, although Bob and I were caught in the tail end of the avalanche it could have been a lot worse if we did not have your training. I hope that you continue your great work and assure you we will be back for more training. It is people like you and Randy that make our sport a lot safer and for that I thank you very much and so does my wife Sherryl. The tour guides felt that the slide was about a Size 3. Hope to see you at your courses next year!

Duane M

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