Valemount Search and Rescue saved us

[NoBrakes!]

Big balls to tell the story, glad you guys made it out ok. Its one of my worst fears for sure.We have started heading that way from the cabin before and been tempted chasing the untouched... took us all day to get back up what took 2 minutes to go down. Cheers to more years!

 

[Goliath]

Chasing fresh can get you in trouble sometimes haha. Never been in trouble I couldnt get out of tho.

Just bought a 18 summit 850, this was the maiden voyage, put 18 km on her! haha It got a few km on a hook but I don't think it registers on the odometer lol

 

[CJD]

Hi All, this is my first post and an emotional one at that!

Wanted to give a MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO Curtis, Mack and Bill for SAVING OUR LIVES on Jan 5-6 2020. My riding partner and I would not be alive if it wasnt for these EXCEPTIONAL first responders! It took ALOT more than just these men to make sure we got out, but these were the three that coordinated the effort and made it happen. I cant tell you how thankful myself, my riding partner and our families are for all of your efforts! The sledding community is SECOND TO NONE! It took an army of men wanting to help to get us out of there safely! I understand that this is the first time Mack and Curtis's team had to leave men over night on the side of a mountain. With the most heartfelt thank you I have ever given...……..Thank you to EVERYONE that helped or tried to help, but the biggest thanks to Curtis, Mack and Bill!!! These men are the definition of TRUE HERO'S and I wanted to let the entire sled community know.

Craig O'Casey

I'm glad you made it out OK. We were the group riding the burn right above you that day. I had my beofeng radio in the cabin and was with Chad talking to you guys and gave SOS the coordinates from my in reach. I had just gotten the In Reach the week prior and it was a bit of an eye opener for sure as to why it can be so important. It felt pretty ****ty getting in the truck and heading back to Edmonton that night with you guys still up there, but at that point it felt like we offered as much assistance as we could without dropping down and getting more guys stuck. Lesson learned for many people that day on how easy it can happen for sure.

 

[Goliath]

WOW Man. It was a crazy day. It still amazaes me the stories coming out of this and how many people it had affected. I also was going to buy an IN- Reach at Xmas and thought it was kind of a novelty item since I've never come close to needing one.
I appreciate all the assistance and use of your equipment for sure! I cant imagine how everyone else felt, like my wife or friends or people trying to help. I knew I was ok and what was happening, all of you guys had to wonder, that sucks even worse! Eye opener for sure, we were not showing off, not in too technical terrain, weren't drinking, we just made one bad decision. We shouldn't have kept going down the creek. The rescue would have been much easier.

CJD- private message me with your number, looks like we both live in the Park.

 

[SHREK1]

Not the best way to learn but you learn’t a lot that day and you will have a new respect for the mountains. Glad it spared you and great you are sharing, you will tell that story for years

cheers

 

[Goliath]

Thanks for all the support. Like I said, I learned it the hard way and if someone can learn from this then I'm happy to share it. I'm happy I can "tell this story for years" and not my wife having too.

Couldn't have done it without everyone that helped out. big or small. Every one was top shelf!

 

[ferniesnow]

Amazing story. I only know Curtis and yes, he is an amazing dude and a true ambassador for our sport. Thanks for sharing and I am sure we will all learn something from this incident.

BTW, welcome to an amazing forum and a great group of amazing peeps.

 

[Goliath]

Thank you!
Im trying to get in contact with Curtis to thank him personaly. He deserves to know what this means to ALOT of people including myself.
And I agree about the great people on this site. AND in the sledding community! Im very humbled.

 

[skegpro]

Ive been sledding mountains for 7-8 years, my partner 15-16. We are not pro by any means but can hold our own. We never expected this to happen to us. Only stupid people get caught in these situations right? WRONG. I will now also reserve my judgement on any one. It can happen to anyone.
Couple of things I or WE could have done different, SAT PHONE- wouldn't have got us out of there any sooner but would have made our location easier and our families know we were OK.
I didn't have MY avi pack on that day, I had to use someone elses- I didn't transfer all my survival gear over. Even though we were really well prepared, it could have been easier.
Looking back, we should not have kept going down the creek, we should have stopped and got help while we were still in reach. Good learning lesson, nobody wants to ask for help. Pride kills. We should all ask for help when we need it, not after.

Sorry I might have missed this somewhere but were you able to relay your exact coordinates to someone, somehow?

Secondly, hindsight being 20/20 what did you wish you would have packed with you that you didn't?

And what gear did you use the most out of what you did have packed?

And lastly, what kind of radio are you using?

Thanks for all the sharing,,, really important learning experience for all.

The ultra deep snow has the ability to do this to the best of riders, all it takes is a little bad luck and one wrong call.

 

[Rene G]

Here’s another thank you for sharing your experience! It takes some guts to come on a new forum and put yourself out there like that.

I’d also like to hear what gear you wish you had, and what you found the most useful.

Welcome to Snow and Mud!

 

[gdhillon]

I agree with everyone, takes a lot to share your experience....glad there was a positive outcome

I too would like to here what you would have wanted/used most in your pack....I need to stock mine up!

edit: I might have missed it what hill was this?

 

[Goliath]

My two buddies that were up top, went to the cabin and met another guy named Curtis. Curtis had an IN REACH and came with my guys to gps where we dropped in. He then called SAR and that’s how Curtis P was able to radio me when he got to the drop in point.

I wish i would have packed another layer. I was dressed to ride in -0 to-5. Got a little colder that night. Was very difficult. Fortunately we had enough food and drink for a day or two each. I would have loved to have had my head lamp, had two in my other pack! That would have helped ALOT. we didn’t have a hatchet, that would have helped tons. A 10x10 tarp would have made all the difference in the world! SAT PHONE OR INREACH

I was in all Klim gear, even when my pants melted from the fire, it didn’t melt holes in it. Even walking out and falling through 15 creeks, my feet were dry! AMAZING stuff. My buddy wasn’t so lucky and wished he had spent the extra coin! We wayyyy over used our one saw. Little scary if out last saw broke we wouldnt be here to talk about it. would been nice to have a “pull chain” type saw for the trees over 6”. Or a spare saw each.

We were using the new BCA 2.0? Radios. They worked great! Even frozen. But they have limited range of course.

Happy to answer your questions!

 

[lilduke]

Did you build or consider building a quinsy? aka a snow hut.

 

[Goliath]

Forgot one thing, we had a little survival blanket “tin foil” from our first aid kit. Couldn’t have done it without that blanket!!! I will pack 3or 4 next time. They take up no room. We had mostly salty snacks, not good for thirst.

 

[Goliath]

We tried to build an snow hut. Dig it out, realized we were in a huge slope. The creek was the only flat area we could get too. We tried to keep snow walls, and back, built poles and spruce bow roof and walls. Worked ok for a while until we could not get to anymore firewood without burning too much energy. Had to burn our shelter a little at a time.

 

[lilduke]

Sounds like a trip you'll never forget, thats for sure. Glad you made it off the mountain

 

[Goliath]

My poor wife is going to have a much harder time forgetting that trip haha. Ya it will be in the back of my head for a while but looking forward to getting back out there. After this -30 weather takes a hike!

 

[brian h]

thanks for sharing, imo the search and rescue guys are great , i have met curtus and mack and both are great guys. this can happen to anyone and being preparred with your survival gear is the best a person can do and hope for the best outcome. i pack to be prepared for a overnight stay and hope it never happens. i watched the heli operator a few years ago hook a sled and he is a amazing pilot. glad you are all ok and that it isnt going to deter you from still going out and enjoying the sport

 

[lilduke]

My poor wife is going to have a much harder time forgetting that trip haha. Ya it will be in the back of my head for a while but looking forward to getting back out there. After this -30 weather takes a hike!

yeah no doubt. can you imagine what it would be like stuck up there in -30! I had to hike out one time when it was super cold. just about lost my big toe

 

[Goliath]

Thanks Brian! Appreciate the words. I USE TO make fun of my wife for being “over prepared” for everything. Not anymore my friend!