Heli Skiing Fatality

[FernieHawk]

I was checking the Canadian Avalanche Centre's incident report database on the weekend and I noticed there was a fatality at a CMH Heli-Ski operation a week ago.

I did a Google search and could only find three articles about the incident. CBC and the Calgary Herald both did a very short stories and the Revelstoke Times Review did a fairly in-depth report. Update 2: German heli-skier dies in avalanche near Revelstoke - Revelstoke Times Review

Sounds like a nasty class four slide and I'm certainly not faulting CMH...I keep pretty close tabs on the news and yet I never heard a thing until I checked the CAC's website. Sure seems like the media picks up on all the Sled related avalanches and somehow misses out on the Commercial related accidents.

 

[Drifter1]

It was on the news when it happened. Seemes like sledders get more press coverage when this sort of thing happens.

 

[the_real_wild1]

Those involved may have asked for privacy

 

[YamaDad]

Privacy means withholding names and some details. It does seem like the incedents near Blue River and Valemount earlier got more press.

When did this happen?

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[YamaDad]

These are still people and it is still very sad. My condolences go out to those involved.

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[Summiteer]

Condolences.

 

[frock]

I agree with Drifter1's comment about preferential treatment to the skiers, I listen to CBC radio every day when I'm working cause it's the only channel I get up here on my drive to and from work. This afternoon they made a phone call to Mike Weigele on one of there talk shows so we could all listen to how bad off his operation is at the expense of the sledders who are ruining the mountain experience for his customers. There was no attempt to contact anyone from the sledders side to get the other half of the story, total BS

Here's a link to the show from this afternoon, hope it works cause I've never tried the link thingy before.



Condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, never want to hear about anyone losing there life enjoying what we do.

 

[frock]

This is the letter I sent to the CBC concerning this radio show. It will probably fall on deaf ears, but if you don't try then you've already failed.




I listen to CBC Radio every day that I am working, both to and from work (1 hour each way). I have been doing this for 8 years now and usually listen to anything that is on because it's great stuff. Today I was listening to Rebecca Zandbergen make a phone call and interview with heli ski operator Mike Wiegele. I think these types of issues definitely need to get some air time and should be dealt with, but how can we make an informed decision when we only hear one side of the story. I was listening to the interview expecting to hear Ms Zandbergen make another phone call to someone from the snowmobilers side in the area affected to get there views on this issue. This sure looks like CBC is giving preferential treatment to a company at the expense of snowmobilers, many of which are taxpaying citizens of this province. Please do some research of the area Mr. Wiegele operates in and interview someone from the sledding community there. I would bet someone from the industry there would be very willing to speak to Mr. Wiegele's accusations. A good starting point for a contact would be the local snowmobile club.

 

[Summitric]

Wonderful letter frock.. Keep us in touch if they respond ..... On another note condolences to family/ friends of the heli-skier


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[Shadam]

for years we have been kept in the dark about heli skiing related acidents. they have privacy, private websites and info we are not able to axcess relating to avy's and other very relevant info ...

aparently they are above us mere sledders ...

did their customers pay more than us to play ???

or is it just bad for business to acknolodge that heli opps have more injuries and deaths than sledders ...

this is a sore point with my crew for years ... far longer than we have been on sleds ...

I know and have known many people who work for heli and cat opps, the amount of injuries to customers is off the hook !!!

we sledders wood be shut down totally if we recorded this many "issues"

I hate it and call bullsheet on heli opps !!!

 

[mountianman]

Mike Weigele is mad because his clients, who pay a large sum of money, see the common person access the areas they ski in. Some of these areas are designated sledding areas such as Salmon and others. He takes his clients there because its close and cuts his costs. He has a very big area and has been against sledders from the very beginning of his operation. His claims about being a supporter of the ton is also BS as his agenda was to buy up the town to make it his own little domain. Areas such as Salmon are designated sled areas and he still drops skiers off there so of coarse his clients would bitch at him and rightly so. I hope your letter gets CBC to interview someone from the Blue River snowmobile club so both sides of the story get heard.

 

[frock]

I would bet that sledder's support of the town far exceeds Wiegele's clients.............................just sayin

 

[ferniesnow]

Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends.