Two More Snowmobilers Gone ..... sad story !!

Crazy Horse · Jan 15, 2019

Some sad news up north today, a father and his 24-year old son were killed in a mountain avalanche in British Columbia. They were part of a larger group and the report said that at least one of the group was "high-marking" ..... sort of a contest where they ride their machines up the mountain (in an arc I think) and see which one can gain the highest point before coming down again. Officials have confirmed that the activity triggered the avalanche. Not sure if they were all involved with doing that or not, I doubt that one of the group decided to surprise the others on his own without them being involved. Sad story, avalanche warnings were out because of treacherous conditions. Why do people test fate like this for a silly contest and maybe bragging rights? Comments like they died doing what they loved make me wonder. My thoughts go out to their families and everyone in their circle of friends.

Traditional Farmer · Jan 15, 2019

Stupidity holds a dear school and teaches hard lessons.

tomtinker · Jan 15, 2019

But it is cute to be stupid, it's the cool thing today.

oldtanker · Jan 15, 2019

Couple of young guys I know go out west to sled every year. I was talking to them the other day. When they started making this annual trip one of em's parents financed part of it as a gift. There was a stipulation. They had to attend an class about avalanches also paid for by the parents.

They were told that while in the mountains 1: never ride alone 2: if anyone of the group thinks a slope or area is too dangerous MINORITY RULE!!! 3: only one person on a slope with the other riders watching and keeping track of where the rider is in case something goes wrong.

Rick

David G · Jan 15, 2019

It seems like snowmobiling brings out the worst or stupid in some.

I know, there are good and bad, but a lot seem to have no respect for property boundaries.

They lost one yesterday in Southern Iowa trying to cross a river on very thin ice.

Farmall plowboy · Jan 15, 2019

Fellow I used to work with said about snowmobiling deaths that "it's God's way of thinning the herd" myself I can't look at a loss of life like that.

DeltaRed · Jan 15, 2019

We lost a snowmobiler(42 years old) here yesterday. Hit a ditch bank. died of massive chest and head injurys.He wasn't wearing a helmet,which would have probably saved him.

Bret4207 · Jan 15, 2019

(quoted from post at 11:36:44 01/15/19) It seems like snowmobiling brings out the worst or stupid in some.

I know, there are good and bad, but a lot seem to have no respect for property boundaries.

They lost one yesterday in Southern Iowa trying to cross a river on very thin ice.

We lose several every winter here. Alcohol is usually involved.

Dick L · Jan 15, 2019

Yes today, but also from the beginning of time. Different toys but look ack to your childhood. I am 80 and both of my Grandfathers told of the stupid things they were part of that they could have died doing.

Adirondack case guy · Jan 15, 2019

Bret; What is the total up on Tug Hill region now. I have seen 3 deaths reported on the local news. Speed seamed to be a factor on the groomed trails.
Loren

Philip d · Jan 15, 2019

Regardless of what the situation was it?s still a tragedy. If they really were tempting fate out of a show of bravado , hopefully they didn?t parish in vein and others learn to heed warnings and be more cautious.

Bruce from Can. · Jan 15, 2019

Tragic for the family of the deceased, but in these cases there is always other rescuers that are also put at risk recovering injured or dead. And there is also the cost of these recovery?s. I wish that popular culture would put such high risk adventures in there appropriate place, plain foolishness.

grizz02 · Jan 15, 2019

yes snowmobiling can be dangerous I live out west and have been riding for 40 years and yes I have been in an avalanche, luckily I rode it down and to the side , it can be an addictive sport when you are in the mountains and see the beauty and fresh air you can see why , nobody lives for ever

big tee · Jan 15, 2019

The next thing ya know them young snowmobiling whippersnappers will be swallowing goldfish and doing the Charleston--crazy flappers!---Tee

big tee · Jan 15, 2019

GOOD answer Grizz---Tee

jeffcat · Jan 15, 2019

Or smoking marygewana.

big tee · Jan 15, 2019

THEM HIPPIES!!!!---Tee

The Famous Grouse · Jan 15, 2019

The availability of out of the crate high HP mountain-specific sleds is making it easy for more and more inexperienced people to do things in the mountains that get them into trouble. No surprise that people are dying. Can't see this situation getting anything but worse.

Grouse

jon f mn · Jan 15, 2019

Wouldn't surprise me to find out the young cavemen had a sabre tooth challenge and would whack a tigre with a stick and run, just for fun of course.

rossow (mn) · Jan 15, 2019

Killing them off in MN-WI-IA already this winter -- thin ice, open water, excessive speed, pulling in front of traffic, several linked to alcohol. I've already lost track of the fatalities, and we've had relatively little snow.

Spook · Jan 15, 2019

Yeah, my grandfather,when asked about girls having babies out of wedlock in the old days ( pre 1920), he asked if we thought we invented sexx. ?

Crazy Horse · Jan 15, 2019

This article (see link below) was from 2003 ...... about 200 per year in North America 15 years ago, and thousands of injuries. I don't imagine the numbers have dropped despite more safety awareness, electronic signals, better equipment, etc.
Untitled URL Link

Bret4207 · Jan 15, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:01:00 01/15/19) Bret; What is the total up on Tug Hill region now. I have seen 3 deaths reported on the local news. Speed seamed to be a factor on the groomed trails.
Loren

I dunno what it is out there. I'm just going on the stuff I saw and investigated. Speed and booze, always a great mix!

David G · Jan 15, 2019

Why do I think going 90 on ice or snow, 1 foot off the ground, mix with alcohol is a bad idea.

Kansasredneck · Jan 15, 2019

Woods Colts. That was the name my grandmother used.

Kansasredneck · Jan 15, 2019

My dad tried that, got me a 440 TNT. Give him credit, he tried best he knew how.

Steamboat · Jan 16, 2019

That is about as dumb as a statement made here several years ago that you should speed over icy spots in road to get past them faster. Or when you are low on gas you should speed so you get closer to gas station.

showcrop · Jan 16, 2019

When I was young and stupid we used to high-mark. The idea then was to be the first to knock the cornice off with your toe. Usually when a group is doing it one will go up while the others watch from a little lower. We have had deaths already here in NH. I contend that the most common cause after alcohol is lack of traction aids, which is like driving fast in the rain with 1/16 inch of tread. The manufacturers don't put adequate runners on sleds for the rider to be able to negotiate the corner at the same speed in the afternoon as they did in the morning before it got icy. One can easily die from running off the trail at 40 MPH. My buddy got hurt bad last winter. He had just rebuilt the motor but still had the original runners. The Fish and Game investigators called it inexperience despite the fact that he has been riding for twenty years.

Two More Snowmobilers Gone ..... sad story !!

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