Can We Learn From Others Mistakes ???

Scotford

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You can keep dropping from the tower all the way back to the cabin you know.... Pretty easy to climb out of there on a stock sled too.

But hey glad you made it out of there ok.
I will just leave these here , but as you can see continue to drop down from tower requires cliff jumping with a parachute so you can land on the transcan hwy ...
 

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8- hire a guide.


for 3hundy that 6 hour scary situation could have been a 20 min cruise...haha
Totally agreed when you want to explore a new area but the point I was trying to make with this is "learn from our mistakes" we had no intention of exploring an new area we did not know off, we made a mistake and had to figure out how to get out on our own. If we wanted to explore that area we would have called shaddy to guide us through there to learn it properly and during day light not pitch dark.
 

52weekbreak

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Totally agreed when you want to explore a new area but the point I was trying to make with this is "learn from our mistakes" we had no intention of exploring an new area we did not know off, we made a mistake and had to figure out how to get out on our own. If we wanted to explore that area we would have called shaddy to guide us through there to learn it properly and during day light not pitch dark.
I think an excellent point. You can be "familiar" with an area and then 1 wrong turn... I have had similar experiences on a much less stressful basis - daytime just selected trail B instead of A that I normally take. Terrain not a problem but there was a short period of "where the hell am I?" Which is a sensation I do not like at all.
 

lilduke

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I will just leave these here , but as you can see continue to drop down from tower requires cliff jumping with a parachute so you can land on the transcan hwy ...
Well you can't drop to the trans Canada
Lol you have to drop towards the cabin..

I know that area very well, better than shaede probably.

I can understand how you could get lost in the dark, but it is a pretty easy trek when you know where you are going.
 
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lilduke

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Totally agreed when you want to explore a new area but the point I was trying to make with this is "learn from our mistakes" we had no intention of exploring an new area we did not know off, we made a mistake and had to figure out how to get out on our own. If we wanted to explore that area we would have called shaddy to guide us through there to learn it properly and during day light not pitch dark.

Well glad you learned something, we all make mistakes.

But can we learn from others mistakes? Yeah it is possible
But most of the time I'd say no... not like ur the first person to
Get lost on the mountain. Safe to say you won't be the last.
 
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JustChilling19

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Really like this thread. Note to self- don’t drop behind the tower at Boulder, got it! Who else has something? Also really like the gps maps, nice to help visualize.
 

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Looking back at some of the "situations" I've found myself in a lot started with overconfidence and poor decisions in the "last hour of the day".... this is when we are typically tired from the day's riding, anxious to get back so start taking short cuts, and/or forget to ride taking into account the lowest skill level of the group. This then puts tremendous pressure for those not comfortable to go with the group as they don't want to get left behind late in the day. The bigger risk is then finding your way in the dark, not allowing time for the unexpected (eg breakdowns, or heaven forbid a serious injury), plus making rescue by air an impossibility till the next day. Through this we have learned to turn back earlier so worst case we are on the trailhead before dark. Great thread! Ride safe so you can ride for a long time!
 

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8- hire a guide.


for 3hundy that 6 hour scary situation could have been a 20 min cruise...haha

HA HA when I was guiding we would go up on a ridge where you could see 100KM. I would ask my clients which way was out and everyone would point in a different direction. A guide can show you stuff that you have never seen before.
 

Rbrduk

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I think that yes you can learn from other peoples mistakes. As long as they are willing to share. And you are willing to listen.

Thanks for sharing.
 

Scotford

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I think that yes you can learn from other peoples mistakes. As long as they are willing to share. And you are willing to listen.

Thanks for sharing.
Well said and totally agreed .... Over the years I have learnt a lot from listening to a lot of experiences of other riders and from my group that I have riden with for years !!!
 

Scotford

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Looking back at some of the "situations" I've found myself in a lot started with overconfidence and poor decisions in the "last hour of the day".... this is when we are typically tired from the day's riding, anxious to get back so start taking short cuts, and/or forget to ride taking into account the lowest skill level of the group. This then puts tremendous pressure for those not comfortable to go with the group as they don't want to get left behind late in the day. The bigger risk is then finding your way in the dark, not allowing time for the unexpected (eg breakdowns, or heaven forbid a serious injury), plus making rescue by air an impossibility till the next day. Through this we have learned to turn back earlier so worst case we are on the trailhead before dark. Great thread! Ride safe so you can ride for a long time!
Well put and so true with so many peeps, myself included !!!

Thanks for sharing !!!
 

Caper11

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Is this the tower at boulder you were at? If so 3 guys in my group dropped down behind there, they had quite the storys when they got out. Great cell service there, so your axys has the fancy GPS gauges and they track? If thats the case than that gauge is worth every penny and other manufacturers should get on board with this.


Glad to hear it worked out for yah, its easy to get turned around at the end of the day I find, and my answer to your question is yes. Ive been in your situation and it not a comfortable feeling getting back to the truck at 10-11 at night.

Ive had a rule that Ive followed for years. Around 2pm I call it "silly hour" guys are tired and the stamina is not there, I refuse to drop in new and familiar places at that hour unless, I'm 100% confident that the guys and myself can get out. All it takes it 1 screw up to burn up daylight fast.
IMO I treat that hour like a high avy risk, better to avoid it than get caught in it.
 
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Scotford

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Is this the tower at boulder you were at? If so 3 guys in my group dropped down behind there, they had quite the storys when they got out. Great cell service there, so your axys has the fancy GPS gauges and they track? If thats the case than that gauge is worth every penny and other manufacturers should get on board with this.


Glad to hear it worked out for yah, its easy to get turned around at the end of the day I find, and my answer to your question is yes. Ive been in your situation and it not a comfortable feeling getting back to the truck at 10-11 at night.

Ive had a rule that Ive followed for years. Around 2pm I call it "silly hour" guys are tired and the stamina is not there, I refuse to drop in new and familiar places at that hour unless, I'm 100% confident that the guys and myself can get out. All it takes it 1 screw up to burn up daylight fast.
IMO I treat that hour like a high avy risk, better to avoid it than get caught in it.
Yes you are correct that is the tower .... And yes I upgraded my 16 axys this year to the new monitor with the GPS tracking and it's a life saver. Once I remembered to turn it on lol... I left it on the map screen as we were moving and with a simple glance down I could see which direction we had to head for. Way easier then stopping and pulling out your hand held gps and look at that small screen. Haven a full screen you can see as your riding is a game changer... agreed the other companies should step up and make this standard for all mountain sleds !!! Thanks for your story !!
 

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A couple of things if you do end up spending the night. Pop off your seat and when you have your "camp" set up you can use it to sit on. Also your side panels could help shelter you from wind/snow/rain. If you have a beverage can or juice box cut the top off and fill it with gas 3/4 full. you can light it with a stick soaked in gas. No it won't explode and will burn 15-30 minutes You can use it for light or put branches on top to help get a fire going. pull out your shovel and bang the blade with the handle if you think anyone might be near enough to hear.
 

Scotford

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A couple of things if you do end up spending the night. Pop off your seat and when you have your "camp" set up you can use it to sit on. Also your side panels could help shelter you from wind/snow/rain. If you have a beverage can or juice box cut the top off and fill it with gas 3/4 full. you can light it with a stick soaked in gas. No it won't explode and will burn 15-30 minutes You can use it for light or put branches on top to help get a fire going. pull out your shovel and bang the blade with the handle if you think anyone might be near enough to hear.
Great points RGM !!!! Thanks
 

teamdirt

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A couple of things if you do end up spending the night. Pop off your seat and when you have your "camp" set up you can use it to sit on. Also your side panels could help shelter you from wind/snow/rain. If you have a beverage can or juice box cut the top off and fill it with gas 3/4 full. you can light it with a stick soaked in gas. No it won't explode and will burn 15-30 minutes You can use it for light or put branches on top to help get a fire going. pull out your shovel and bang the blade with the handle if you think anyone might be near enough to hear.

To add to that. If you have to spend a night dig a snowcave if you can't get a fire going. The temperature at the base of the snowpack is always around 0 degrees celcius and could be the difference between life and death if the air temperature is dangerously cold.
 

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lungle jim your rule is golden in my book
cape too your advice is golden
at the later half of the day...never drop in,

my old group would do a chit show at the
end of the day. Glad we all got back in one piece
looking back.
 
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Beels

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Is this the tower at boulder you were at? If so 3 guys in my group dropped down behind there, they had quite the storys when they got out. Great cell service there, so your axys has the fancy GPS gauges and they track? If thats the case than that gauge is worth every penny and other manufacturers should get on board with this.


Glad to hear it worked out for yah, its easy to get turned around at the end of the day I find, and my answer to your question is yes. Ive been in your situation and it not a comfortable feeling getting back to the truck at 10-11 at night.

Ive had a rule that Ive followed for years. Around 2pm I call it "silly hour" guys are tired and the stamina is not there, I refuse to drop in new and familiar places at that hour unless, I'm 100% confident that the guys and myself can get out. All it takes it 1 screw up to burn up daylight fast.
IMO I treat that hour like a high avy risk, better to avoid it than get caught in it.

Our group calls that the 3 o'clock drop and there's a couple guys that have to be reminded every time. If you want to play Lewis and Clark, do it at 10am...
 

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We also use the 2pm rule. I adapt it more to sundown though. Will always look and see when they call for the sun to go down and try to be a comfortable distance from the cabin/trail within 2 hours of sundown. Lots of times we head back earlier because we’re out of fuel or just spent. First up, first down, is how I like it. Earlier access to the hot tub and dinner that way to. Just gotta get up early and be prepared. No matter how you cut it there is only so many hours of hard sledding you can do in a day!
 
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