Donziweasel
01-02-2007, 08:22 AM
This happened New Years Eve and almost killed us. While many of you do not live out West or snowmobile, I think there are good lessons here for anyone who enjoys the woods and spends time outdoors.
New Years Eve 2006- A Night of Survival
By John Pearson
The story that follows is true. Although what happened is embarrassing, I feel that by writing this article I might be able to save a life down the road. We were all experienced riders with a lot of backcountry experience, but this story will show even experienced people can make serious mistakes.
New Years Eve 2006 started out as a normal day for my wife, my friend Jeremy and me. After a quick few hours at work, we decided to take a quick ride in the backcountry on our new sleds before the evening’s festivities. We had great equipment for Boondocking with me on an M-1000, my wife on an M-8 and my friend on a Summit XRS. We headed to a favorite area in Cliff Creek about 30 miles south of Jackson. The weather was sunny, the avalanche forecast was moderate and we were excited about a great day of boondocking in the backcountry. We started out heading up to some bowls that we had ridden last year in the spring and were amazing. We cut fresh track all the way in relying on our GPS’s that had last years tracks saved on them. We finally got to the first bowl and did some nice climbing, but it was not ideal, so off we went looking for that perfect face in which to try our new sleds. We kept jumping from bowl to bowl where we had ridden last spring. We came to a ridge where you had to ride down a steep pitch through the trees that opened up into a perfect bowl we knew about and had ridden last March. I was leading and by dropping into this bowl, I had sealed our fate for that day and it was the first mistake I made during this trip. After riding some amazing faces and having a great time, we decided to head back out.
When we got to the face in the steep trees, I tried to climb out but the face was full of sugar snow and logs barely under the surface. After trying with a snow bungee for 45 minutes to get up the 80 yard face, we gave up. The difference in last spring and that fateful day was that there was more snow and the tracks we had followed in were hard packed. We finally gave up knowing we could not get out that way. I knew the next bowl over was an area I had ridden two years before and there was an old mining road at the bottom of it. We decided to drop into this bowl and try and find the old road to get out. The drop in was ugly at best and although Jeremy and I made it, my wife lost her sled and it hit a tree. The front bumper, belly pan and cowling were all cracked, but mechanically the sled was fine.
After getting the sled out of the trees it is beginning to get dark and we knew we had to get out soon. The temperature was falling and we were out of food. We also were getting dehydrated from not drinking enough water. We found tracks at the bottom of the bowl that looked as though they led out. Although I could see the old mining road on the GPS, the road had given me problems in the past and I decided to follow the tracks into drainage. This ended up being mistake number 2. The track was narrow and tough riding with the three of us having to negotiate tight trees, logs and creek crossings. We eventually made it to a point on Gibbs Creek where there was a bad crossing. After Jeremy and I made it across with some difficulty, my wife decided she was too tired to try the crossing and Jeremy volunteered to try it. He almost made it but then the sled slid into the creek. The ice and snow around the sled looked stable, so Jeremy and I went on the other side of the sled to try and push it out. Both of us fell through the ice up to mid thigh and both of our arms went in up to the elbow. This is mistake number 3.
Although soaked, we tried to get the sled out and although it was revving up, the clutch and belt were under water and neither was engaging. After 15 minutes, we knew the sled was stuck for the night, so we headed back down the trail with Jeremy in the lead and my wife and I double on my sled. After a half a mile, we lost the trail as whoever had made it had become lost and could not find the way out. Although we knew they had made it out somehow, it was too dark to find the tracks. Both Jeremy and I were starting to get extremely cold with out soaked boots, legs and arms and hypothermia was not far away. We finally made a good decision and decided to stop, make a fire and dry out our boots. We both had saws in the handles of out shovels and started cutting branches of green pine. We were on almost 4 feet of snow and finding dry, dead timber was not an option. The fire would flare and then die. Both Jeremy and I had our boots and sock off trying to dry them out in the small non-cooperative fire. My wife, whose feet were also wet, but warm, continued to get wood and necessities from the sleds. The neck of the Arctic Cat fuel tanks is very large so you can actually fit your hand inside. This ended up being essential and we took used small water bottles to fill with gas and throw on the fire. By now the temp was in the single digits and we were not drying out and I had made my final mistake by taking off my helmet.
I knew at this point we were in serious trouble and asked my wife to get Jeremy’s satellite phone so I could call a friend and get Teton County Search and Rescue. Being surrounded by mountains, we could only get a single about every 10 minutes and it would last only two minutes. I finally got my friend and told them our GPS coordinates and the general area we were in. This was around 8:30 P.M. Although we did not know it, we were actually in Sublette County, not Teton County, but Teton County coordinated with Sublette County search and rescue. We also called 911 on the Globalstar satellite network and the emergency operator was able to relay the phone’s number to Sublette County Search and Rescue.
Although we were in serious trouble, when we decided to stop and make a fire, we actually started making good decisions. My immediate goal was to get my feet and boots warm so I could put them back on. Finally I felt they were warm but not dry so I put them back on. They were warm enough so I could move around and relieve my wife from getting wood. I could tell she was wearing out from exposure and exhaustion. I then put back on my helmet and my head immediately froze. I started shivering really bad and new I had to leave it on and warm up. The fire simply would not stay lit so I headed out to find some dry wood. I found a 25 ft standing dead pine and used a saw to cut it down. We used the small branches to make a base under the fire and then sawed the bigger pieces into small logs which we set on top. Using the water bottles full of gas, we kept dowsing the fire until it lit. Once lit, we all became somewhat comfortable.
Search and rescue began calling us on the phone when we had a signal. I gave them three important ways to find us. First, I gave them somewhat exact GPS coordinated. Next, I saw an old mine landmark on the GPS and using the GOTO function, gave Search and Rescue another position as .61 miles west southwest from the mine. Lastly, I gave them the name of the creek drainage we were in, Gibbs Creek. They told us that when we heard their snowmobiles, to turn ours on so they could see the lights. My wife and I also had high tech Arctic Cat helmets with built in lights. The ones in the front were like a small white flashlight and the ones on the back were red that can be seen over a mile away and flashed SOS. Around midnight we finally heard their sleds and it was just in time. Our fire was dying and we were all getting chilly again. They Search and Rescue team hiked down from above us and checked us for any medical problems. They then said the old mining road I had initially failed to follow was only about .2 miles above us. They rode the two sleds up and we hiked up. Once at the top, the team of four Search and Rescue as well as the three of us rode to the trailhead. By now the temp was below zero and I almost went hypothermic. We made it to the trail head around 1:30 A.M. and it was -8. Search and Rescue, Sublette County Sheriff and a medical team with an ambulance were there to meet us. After a quick hop in the ambulance we were released and headed home. It took over 24 hours to get our core temperatures back to normal and longer than that to recover from exhaustion and exposure and this is how we spent New Year’s Eve.
Looking back on the whole scenario, we made a lot of mistake, but also made some very good decisions and I would like to look at both so whoever reads this can learn from our mistake and correct decisions. First, we were well prepared for our ride. We were all on new sleds that were designed for backcountry riding. On top of our usual equipment such as avalanche beacons, shovels and probes, we also has saws, 2 GPS’s a satellite phone, some basic tools, four lighters, a snow bungee (worth it’s weight in gold), NRS Straps, and lights built into our helmets. We also had hand held radios and basic backcountry survival knowledge. We were fairly prepared for what happened. Our mistakes were riding into and area which was questionable about getting out, following tracks that we did not know where they went, and getting wet. We also had changed our original area we were going to ride and had not alerted anyone to where we were.
The decisions which saved our lives were knowing when to throw in the towel, stop and build a fire. Another decision that saved our lives was choking down our pride and contacting the proper authorities on the satellite phone. Although we may have made it through the night, we were wet, cold out of provisions, exhausted and dehydrated. If we had made it, we all would have almost assuredly have lost some appendages to frostbite. Without certain equipment, we would have died. The saws in the shovel handles were extremely important as we would have not been able to get wood for the fire. The lights on our helmets allowed me to find wood that was dry enough to light. The two GPS’s were also crucial for knowing where we were and relaying the information to Search and Rescue. Without the satellite phone, we would never have been able to alert authorities that we were in serious trouble and needed help. I also made a good decision in who I contacted for help. I knew that I had to contact the right person and that was either Janae Robinson or Julie Rohde. They are co-workers and I consider them family. Both have worked side by side with me and run a large transportation company. I knew their experience in coordinating the company and level headedness would be essential in relaying information to the right people and they would not panic. I also knew they would not stop until I was safe. I decided to contact Janae and this ended up being the right person for the job as she was instrumental in getting the info to the authorities.
In the end, we all made it and that is the important part. Jeremy ended up with 1st degree frostbite on his face. My wife has a fancy scale and it showed she lost 3% of her body fat and gained 3 pounds of muscle. This is pretty extreme. When we decided to stop and build a fire, I can not tell you how exhausted we were. We had been digging out sleds all day and riding hard. I was getting cramps in my legs by the fire, a sure sign of dehydration. I actually drank two bottle of creek water knowing my body was shutting down and if I did not re-hydrate, I would simply be in more trouble. I knew that there was a possibility I would get giardia down the road, but the immediate need to re-hydrate out weighed possibly getting giardia in a few days.
Now, I look back on this as a learning experience. I now realize that I have been taking too chanced in general in the backcountry for years. I had basically become too complacent in my riding. Two years ago I almost had to dig in for the night. I love to ride and will continue to boondock in Wyoming’s back country, but will be more prepared and will make better decisions. I will also be taking more equipment, such as spare gloves, sock, food rations, fire starter, head lamp and water. Without the light, I would not have been able to find the dead pine that saved us. We also kept losing the GPS, saw and phone in the snow and the light helped find them. Although extremely expensive, I am looking at purchasing my own satellite phone as without it, we might not have made it.
I would like to thank Janae Robinson, Teton County Sheriff, Teton County Search and Rescue, Sublette County Sheriff and most of all, Sublette County Search and Rescue. All played an important part in our survival and they were all professional, courteous, and well trained for the amazing job they do. Whenever you buy a license for fishing or whatever and the sales clerk asks you if you would like to donate a dollar to these professionals, please say “I would like to donate $20.00 or more” as you might be the next one depending on these people who give so much to make the backcountry a safer place to experience. Lastly, I would like to ask for the forgiveness of my wife and friend whose lives I put in danger with poor decisions. If anything had happened to them, I would have never been able to forgive myself. I hope they can forgive me and will continue to ride with me in the backcountry as I know of no two other people I enjoy riding with as much as them.
I will be submitting this to snowmobile and ski magazines and to anyone else who will read it hoping that maybe someone can learn from it and it might save a life.
New Years Eve 2006- A Night of Survival
By John Pearson
The story that follows is true. Although what happened is embarrassing, I feel that by writing this article I might be able to save a life down the road. We were all experienced riders with a lot of backcountry experience, but this story will show even experienced people can make serious mistakes.
New Years Eve 2006 started out as a normal day for my wife, my friend Jeremy and me. After a quick few hours at work, we decided to take a quick ride in the backcountry on our new sleds before the evening’s festivities. We had great equipment for Boondocking with me on an M-1000, my wife on an M-8 and my friend on a Summit XRS. We headed to a favorite area in Cliff Creek about 30 miles south of Jackson. The weather was sunny, the avalanche forecast was moderate and we were excited about a great day of boondocking in the backcountry. We started out heading up to some bowls that we had ridden last year in the spring and were amazing. We cut fresh track all the way in relying on our GPS’s that had last years tracks saved on them. We finally got to the first bowl and did some nice climbing, but it was not ideal, so off we went looking for that perfect face in which to try our new sleds. We kept jumping from bowl to bowl where we had ridden last spring. We came to a ridge where you had to ride down a steep pitch through the trees that opened up into a perfect bowl we knew about and had ridden last March. I was leading and by dropping into this bowl, I had sealed our fate for that day and it was the first mistake I made during this trip. After riding some amazing faces and having a great time, we decided to head back out.
When we got to the face in the steep trees, I tried to climb out but the face was full of sugar snow and logs barely under the surface. After trying with a snow bungee for 45 minutes to get up the 80 yard face, we gave up. The difference in last spring and that fateful day was that there was more snow and the tracks we had followed in were hard packed. We finally gave up knowing we could not get out that way. I knew the next bowl over was an area I had ridden two years before and there was an old mining road at the bottom of it. We decided to drop into this bowl and try and find the old road to get out. The drop in was ugly at best and although Jeremy and I made it, my wife lost her sled and it hit a tree. The front bumper, belly pan and cowling were all cracked, but mechanically the sled was fine.
After getting the sled out of the trees it is beginning to get dark and we knew we had to get out soon. The temperature was falling and we were out of food. We also were getting dehydrated from not drinking enough water. We found tracks at the bottom of the bowl that looked as though they led out. Although I could see the old mining road on the GPS, the road had given me problems in the past and I decided to follow the tracks into drainage. This ended up being mistake number 2. The track was narrow and tough riding with the three of us having to negotiate tight trees, logs and creek crossings. We eventually made it to a point on Gibbs Creek where there was a bad crossing. After Jeremy and I made it across with some difficulty, my wife decided she was too tired to try the crossing and Jeremy volunteered to try it. He almost made it but then the sled slid into the creek. The ice and snow around the sled looked stable, so Jeremy and I went on the other side of the sled to try and push it out. Both of us fell through the ice up to mid thigh and both of our arms went in up to the elbow. This is mistake number 3.
Although soaked, we tried to get the sled out and although it was revving up, the clutch and belt were under water and neither was engaging. After 15 minutes, we knew the sled was stuck for the night, so we headed back down the trail with Jeremy in the lead and my wife and I double on my sled. After a half a mile, we lost the trail as whoever had made it had become lost and could not find the way out. Although we knew they had made it out somehow, it was too dark to find the tracks. Both Jeremy and I were starting to get extremely cold with out soaked boots, legs and arms and hypothermia was not far away. We finally made a good decision and decided to stop, make a fire and dry out our boots. We both had saws in the handles of out shovels and started cutting branches of green pine. We were on almost 4 feet of snow and finding dry, dead timber was not an option. The fire would flare and then die. Both Jeremy and I had our boots and sock off trying to dry them out in the small non-cooperative fire. My wife, whose feet were also wet, but warm, continued to get wood and necessities from the sleds. The neck of the Arctic Cat fuel tanks is very large so you can actually fit your hand inside. This ended up being essential and we took used small water bottles to fill with gas and throw on the fire. By now the temp was in the single digits and we were not drying out and I had made my final mistake by taking off my helmet.
I knew at this point we were in serious trouble and asked my wife to get Jeremy’s satellite phone so I could call a friend and get Teton County Search and Rescue. Being surrounded by mountains, we could only get a single about every 10 minutes and it would last only two minutes. I finally got my friend and told them our GPS coordinates and the general area we were in. This was around 8:30 P.M. Although we did not know it, we were actually in Sublette County, not Teton County, but Teton County coordinated with Sublette County search and rescue. We also called 911 on the Globalstar satellite network and the emergency operator was able to relay the phone’s number to Sublette County Search and Rescue.
Although we were in serious trouble, when we decided to stop and make a fire, we actually started making good decisions. My immediate goal was to get my feet and boots warm so I could put them back on. Finally I felt they were warm but not dry so I put them back on. They were warm enough so I could move around and relieve my wife from getting wood. I could tell she was wearing out from exposure and exhaustion. I then put back on my helmet and my head immediately froze. I started shivering really bad and new I had to leave it on and warm up. The fire simply would not stay lit so I headed out to find some dry wood. I found a 25 ft standing dead pine and used a saw to cut it down. We used the small branches to make a base under the fire and then sawed the bigger pieces into small logs which we set on top. Using the water bottles full of gas, we kept dowsing the fire until it lit. Once lit, we all became somewhat comfortable.
Search and rescue began calling us on the phone when we had a signal. I gave them three important ways to find us. First, I gave them somewhat exact GPS coordinated. Next, I saw an old mine landmark on the GPS and using the GOTO function, gave Search and Rescue another position as .61 miles west southwest from the mine. Lastly, I gave them the name of the creek drainage we were in, Gibbs Creek. They told us that when we heard their snowmobiles, to turn ours on so they could see the lights. My wife and I also had high tech Arctic Cat helmets with built in lights. The ones in the front were like a small white flashlight and the ones on the back were red that can be seen over a mile away and flashed SOS. Around midnight we finally heard their sleds and it was just in time. Our fire was dying and we were all getting chilly again. They Search and Rescue team hiked down from above us and checked us for any medical problems. They then said the old mining road I had initially failed to follow was only about .2 miles above us. They rode the two sleds up and we hiked up. Once at the top, the team of four Search and Rescue as well as the three of us rode to the trailhead. By now the temp was below zero and I almost went hypothermic. We made it to the trail head around 1:30 A.M. and it was -8. Search and Rescue, Sublette County Sheriff and a medical team with an ambulance were there to meet us. After a quick hop in the ambulance we were released and headed home. It took over 24 hours to get our core temperatures back to normal and longer than that to recover from exhaustion and exposure and this is how we spent New Year’s Eve.
Looking back on the whole scenario, we made a lot of mistake, but also made some very good decisions and I would like to look at both so whoever reads this can learn from our mistake and correct decisions. First, we were well prepared for our ride. We were all on new sleds that were designed for backcountry riding. On top of our usual equipment such as avalanche beacons, shovels and probes, we also has saws, 2 GPS’s a satellite phone, some basic tools, four lighters, a snow bungee (worth it’s weight in gold), NRS Straps, and lights built into our helmets. We also had hand held radios and basic backcountry survival knowledge. We were fairly prepared for what happened. Our mistakes were riding into and area which was questionable about getting out, following tracks that we did not know where they went, and getting wet. We also had changed our original area we were going to ride and had not alerted anyone to where we were.
The decisions which saved our lives were knowing when to throw in the towel, stop and build a fire. Another decision that saved our lives was choking down our pride and contacting the proper authorities on the satellite phone. Although we may have made it through the night, we were wet, cold out of provisions, exhausted and dehydrated. If we had made it, we all would have almost assuredly have lost some appendages to frostbite. Without certain equipment, we would have died. The saws in the shovel handles were extremely important as we would have not been able to get wood for the fire. The lights on our helmets allowed me to find wood that was dry enough to light. The two GPS’s were also crucial for knowing where we were and relaying the information to Search and Rescue. Without the satellite phone, we would never have been able to alert authorities that we were in serious trouble and needed help. I also made a good decision in who I contacted for help. I knew that I had to contact the right person and that was either Janae Robinson or Julie Rohde. They are co-workers and I consider them family. Both have worked side by side with me and run a large transportation company. I knew their experience in coordinating the company and level headedness would be essential in relaying information to the right people and they would not panic. I also knew they would not stop until I was safe. I decided to contact Janae and this ended up being the right person for the job as she was instrumental in getting the info to the authorities.
In the end, we all made it and that is the important part. Jeremy ended up with 1st degree frostbite on his face. My wife has a fancy scale and it showed she lost 3% of her body fat and gained 3 pounds of muscle. This is pretty extreme. When we decided to stop and build a fire, I can not tell you how exhausted we were. We had been digging out sleds all day and riding hard. I was getting cramps in my legs by the fire, a sure sign of dehydration. I actually drank two bottle of creek water knowing my body was shutting down and if I did not re-hydrate, I would simply be in more trouble. I knew that there was a possibility I would get giardia down the road, but the immediate need to re-hydrate out weighed possibly getting giardia in a few days.
Now, I look back on this as a learning experience. I now realize that I have been taking too chanced in general in the backcountry for years. I had basically become too complacent in my riding. Two years ago I almost had to dig in for the night. I love to ride and will continue to boondock in Wyoming’s back country, but will be more prepared and will make better decisions. I will also be taking more equipment, such as spare gloves, sock, food rations, fire starter, head lamp and water. Without the light, I would not have been able to find the dead pine that saved us. We also kept losing the GPS, saw and phone in the snow and the light helped find them. Although extremely expensive, I am looking at purchasing my own satellite phone as without it, we might not have made it.
I would like to thank Janae Robinson, Teton County Sheriff, Teton County Search and Rescue, Sublette County Sheriff and most of all, Sublette County Search and Rescue. All played an important part in our survival and they were all professional, courteous, and well trained for the amazing job they do. Whenever you buy a license for fishing or whatever and the sales clerk asks you if you would like to donate a dollar to these professionals, please say “I would like to donate $20.00 or more” as you might be the next one depending on these people who give so much to make the backcountry a safer place to experience. Lastly, I would like to ask for the forgiveness of my wife and friend whose lives I put in danger with poor decisions. If anything had happened to them, I would have never been able to forgive myself. I hope they can forgive me and will continue to ride with me in the backcountry as I know of no two other people I enjoy riding with as much as them.
I will be submitting this to snowmobile and ski magazines and to anyone else who will read it hoping that maybe someone can learn from it and it might save a life.