Man survives 9 days in BC wilderness. Wife dies.

[The Ditch]

I don't know why you guys are all upset about back country skiers, don't know about this situation but myself and friends have all been out of bounds skiing at kickinghorse before, you need to have the right equipment and have all your courses. I guess you take your chances though, kickinghorse is one of my favourite mountains.

[Tron_fdc]

I'd like to see where they were on the mountain. I've been there a few times as well, and you have to be pretty out of it to get lost. Not to mention that it hadn't snowed and they could quite easily have followed their tracks back inbounds. Yeah, you're gonna post-hole the whole way back, but it's better than dropping in elevation into the Kicking Horse river.

I ride out of bounds all the time, and cross marked boundaries quite often, so I know how serious ski patrol take these things. I'm no expert but I've also done my avi training, spend on average 30-40 days a year in the backcountry, so I know what it's about. People need to realize that as soon as you step out the patrolled zone, you're on your own. Search and rescue shouldn't be accountable for your own stupidity, and they're not obligated to go balls out when they're not even sure someone is missing. While it is their job to find you if you're lost, keep in mind a lot of those guys are volunteers and it's your job to make sure you're equipped properly when you go anywhere near uncontrolled areas. I've seen some absolutely STUPID things in the years I've spent riding/sledding, with this one not even close to the dumbest.

It sounds a little crass, but I don't see the RCMP, Search and rescue or KHMR being held responsible here. They crossed a MARKED boundary, so they knew the risk. They gambled, and lost.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

They didn't ignore it.

The information was passed along to relevant authorities who looked into it and decided there weren't sufficient indications that people were missing to justify a search and rescue mission. Further reports of SOS signs were subsequently brought to search and rescue's attention, but it appears there were some communication issues which resulted in the conclusion that these reports merely duplicated the previous ones, that the matter had been considered, and that no search and rescue was justified.

I don't know somebody made a huge boo-boo there. Helicopter sees SOS, so it means there is somebody over there. Helicopter relayed information to search and rescue so they checked for abandon cars.. what happenned if these people doesn't any vehicles. Helicopters saw another SOS. Seeing SOS thing two days in less than a week should give someone an idea that someone is in trouble. I don't understand why it was ignored.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I'd like to see where they were on the mountain. I've been there a few times as well, and you have to be pretty out of it to get lost. Not to mention that it hadn't snowed and they could quite easily have followed their tracks back inbounds. Yeah, you're gonna post-hole the whole way back, but it's better than dropping in elevation into the Kicking Horse river.

I ride out of bounds all the time, and cross marked boundaries quite often, so I know how serious ski patrol take these things. I'm no expert but I've also done my avi training, spend on average 30-40 days a year in the backcountry, so I know what it's about. People need to realize that as soon as you step out the patrolled zone, you're on your own. Search and rescue shouldn't be accountable for your own stupidity, and they're not obligated to go balls out when they're not even sure someone is missing. While it is their job to find you if you're lost, keep in mind a lot of those guys are volunteers and it's your job to make sure you're equipped properly when you go anywhere near uncontrolled areas. I've seen some absolutely STUPID things in the years I've spent riding/sledding, with this one not even close to the dumbest.

It sounds a little crass, but I don't see the RCMP, Search and rescue or KHMR being held responsible here. They crossed a MARKED boundary, so they knew the risk. They gambled, and lost.

Once again, I dont disagree with the sentiment that the people that strayed out of bounds are at fault and responsible for their own fates.

However, I still see a huge blunder being made by the rescue organizations/authorities here. And that is concerning to me. Nothing is going to change the fact that these people made a dumb choice/mistake. By the same token nothing is going to change the fact that there was universal distress signals that were noticed/reported and not fully investigated as they should have been. There was an opportunity to save these people from themselves. The answers/excuses given for not doing a full investigation seem pretty weak at first glance.

Hopefully more information will be forthcoming on this.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by greyshep

Once again, I dont disagree with the sentiment that the people that strayed out of bounds are at fault and responsible for their own fates.

However, I still see a huge blunder being made by the rescue organizations/authorities here. And that is concerning to me. Nothing is going to change the fact that these people made a dumb choice/mistake. By the same token nothing is going to change the fact that there was universal distress signals that were noticed/reported and not fully investigated as they should have been. There was an opportunity to save these people from themselves. The answers/excuses given for not doing a full investigation seem pretty weak at first glance.

Hopefully more information will be forthcoming on this.

Agreed. See post #18
The RCMP will investigate this blunder

[ken0042]

I don't think the blame can just go in one direction here. There is enough to go around.

Now, with respect to the "lesson learned" here; things that I always have with me when skiing:
- an old analog cell phone, as well as a two-way radio.
- GPS
- a lighter, and some paper to start a fire
- a few candy bars

And all of that with me with absolutely no intentions of going out of the green/blue runs. I also make sure people know where I am going, and when to expect me back. That last bit is so important; had they been reported missing earlier the search would have started earlier.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I don't think the blame can just go in one direction here. There is enough to go around.

Now, with respect to the "lesson learned" here; things that I always have with me when skiing:
- an old analog cell phone, as well as a two-way radio.
- GPS
- a lighter, and some paper to start a fire
- a few candy bars

And all of that with me with absolutely no intentions of going out of the green/blue runs. I also make sure people know where I am going, and when to expect me back. That last bit is so important; had they been reported missing earlier the search would have started earlier.

Wow thats quite the list considering the terrain you typically ski.

How do you cart all those electronic devices around? No fear of damaging them if you take a spill? Or having them inadvertently hurt you? Is your analog cell phone activated or just an old beast?

Do you ski with a daypack on?

[ken0042]

Usually it all just goes into the pockets of my jacket. The phone is small- an old Star Tac. It isn't activated, but you can always call 911 and 0 from any cell phone. For the radio I use it anyways to catch up with my friends as we always end up on different runs.

And they have been through their share of spills; including the one where I sufferred the concussion. (If you remember the helmet thread from a few weeks ago.) If they break, I'm out 50 bucks for the radio and $100 for the GPS.

Hiking, hunting, skiing- you are going out into the wilderness. To me it just makes sense to be a little prepared; especially when it cost me next to nothing.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Usually it all just goes into the pockets of my jacket. The phone is small- an old Star Tac. It isn't activated, but you can always call 911 and 0 from any cell phone. For the radio I use it anyways to catch up with my friends as we always end up on different runs.

And they have been through their share of spills; including the one where I sufferred the concussion. (If you remember the helmet thread from a few weeks ago.) If they break, I'm out 50 bucks for the radio and $100 for the GPS.

Hiking, hunting, skiing- you are going out into the wilderness. To me it just makes sense to be a little prepared; especially when it cost me next to nothing.

Hmmm. Interesting. I wasnt aware that a de-activated analog phone could call 911. Of course I imagine you still need a cell tower nearby?

Yes its always good to be prepared for sure. I missed the helmet thread, will have to look for it.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by greyshep

Of course I imagine you still need a cell tower nearby?

Yes, and the reason for analog is that as of my last ski trip (2 years ago now I guess) I couldn't get a digital signal on top of Sunshine, but I could always pick up analog.