retiredpop
Active VIP Member
I have to say that sledders need to get more educated, and mountain savvy. I have been sledding for 15 + yrs in the mountains and have seen our sport evolve from sleds that would never make it into the places that we see sleds go now. Turbo sleds are making it easier and easier to reach all the highest places imaginable, and it seems that more and more inexperienced guys are riding these high powered machines without a second thought to the dangers out there. I believe there needs to be some sort of standard set in place....like a mandatory AST level 1 course at a MINIMUM.
This year I witnessed some VERY unsafe chit going on out there (more than any other year) and also a lot of recklessness like leaving behind whole sleds out in the mtns after crashing them, leaving blown tracks, and other garbage left behind. That Clemina Avalanche Video pretty much explains the stupidity that goes on out there. Sledding in closed areas is another big no-no, even thought we may not agree with the closures they are in place for a reason. These guys that are sledding in the closed areas for that untouched powder may not realize that they will get ALL the areas taken away if they continue doing it. There needs to be more sledders that are on the same page here.
Take an avalanche course, join your local club, be an ambassador for your sport, and even though some may not like it, they need to be told once in awhile what they're doing wrong
I couldn't agree with you more.