>>264316SAR, for the most part, isn't snowmobilers. They're largely non-motorized, though a few guys in the counties I ride dirt in do moto. >pic related, training day
Buddy of mine was killed in an avalanche two years ago. Two youngest brothers were out, got caught in a fairly technical area. Youngest was able to self-rescue, performed a beacon search and by the time he found his brother it was too late. Youngest survived two nights on the mountain in a snow cave.
SAR shut down the area to do the search. They showed up with 10-year old sleds (vintage by today's standards), and without the riding skills to get to the areas the brothers were at, they were at least another day out.
Dad and the oldest brother that weren't riding that day geared up and headed out, SAR tried to stop them, and in discussing the accident recently it sounds like dad was about to throw punches with incident command.
SAR had ~30 searchers, more than half on sleds, the rest non-motorized (ski/snowshoe). They had an air nat'l guard helicopter with FLIR.
Dad's the one that found the brothers.
Really opened my eyes to the lack of skills/equipment SAR has when it comes to motorized recreation. Even before the avalanche I'd still rather call on other sledders before I'd call SAR.
Still miss riding with you, T.
