So how did we do this year??

[Highfly]

Curious how we did as sledders this year in regards to fatalities (Sorry might seem a bit morbid). Being such a bad year for avalanches I am curious are we less than previous years? More? Are we getting the picture??? Are all the Avalanche classes and great sites like this spreading the word making a difference? I sure hope so.

 

[Summitric]

THIS MIGHT HELP.... Map of avalanche deaths in B.C. | Features | CBC British Columbia

Rise in avalanche fatalities this year has Canadian Avalanche Centre worried

By ,Calgary Sun

First posted: Monday, March 17, 2014 04:26 PM MDT | Updated: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 07:47 AM MDT

STARS air ambulance lifts off for Calgary, with a man who was caught in an avalanche near Lake Louise, Alberta on Saturday March 15, 2014. Al Charest/Calgary Sun



In just over a week. between March 8 and Sunday, eight people lost their lives as the result of avalanches in Alberta and B.C..
On Sunday, Calgary’s Gregory Di Valentin died after he was caught in an avalanche while skiing near Hwy. 93, north of Lake Louise on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the bodies of a father and his 11-year-old son — identified as Gabriel and Oliver Mironov of Quebec — were found near Lake Louise after they were apparently caught in an avalanche while tobogganing, possibly several days earlier.
The three fatalities follow the deaths of three snowmobilers in separate incidents last week and two snowshoers caught in a slide near Lake Louise March 8.
The total number of avalanche-related deaths since the start of the 2014 season, which began Oct. 1, 2013, is 13.
“We’re worried because there’s still season left and the snow pack is poor,” said Mary Clayton, spokeswoman for the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC).
Ilya Storm, field programs manager at the CAC, said avalanche conditions have been especially unpredictable lately.
“They change week to week and sometimes they change day to day, and this last week was one of those times where they changed hour by hour,” he said.
“There’s lots of evidence to show how surprising avalanches are and how they can catch people off guard.”
With just five people killed, the 2013 season saw the lowest annual number of avalanche fatalities since 1984.
jenna.mcmurray@sunmedia.ca
On Twitter: @SunJMac

Canadian avalanche-related fatalities
2014 to date: 13
2013: 5
2012: 10
2011: 11
2010: 12
2009: 26
2008: 18
2007: 7

 

[Pantherscry]

It is to bad we have to see lists with such high numbers of deaths every year. It is not surprising when you see what people ride on the highest avalanche risk days of the year. Lets hope the awareness continues to increase and people get themselves trained. Obviously training is not going to stop everyone from choosing a bad line, but everyone I have talked to with AST1 has said they look at the mountain a lot different after the course. I found the Father and Son story especially sad.

 

[Clode]

seems to me that there were a lot more non-snowmobiler avalanche deaths this winter

 

[Bnorth]

Karl Klassen was on the radio yesterday and said 15 avalanche related deaths so far this year, very poor year for certain. I hate to make the comparison between snowmobilers and other backcountry users but God knows those that oppose us will. I have not heard a comparison yet, I would love to know the accuracy of these numbers as the big ski operators do a pretty good job of keeping their incidents out of the media. There was a woman killed in the Gothics last week that was little more than a footnote.

 

[ferniesnow]

From the CAC website, with BC and AB and only snowmobile fatalities checked off, this is what came up:

Date	Location	Province	Activity	Involvement	Injury	Fatality
2014-01-18	Goat Ridge	BC	Snowmobiling	1	-	1	View
2014-02-15	Revelstoke, Boulder Mountain	BC	Snowmobiling	2	0	1	View
2014-03-08	Keefer Lake	BC	Snowmobiling	3	2	1	View
2014-03-11	Grey Creek Pass	BC	Snowmobiling	1	0	1	View
2014-03-14	Blue River, Red Sands Mtn.	BC	Snowmobiling	2	1	1	V

 

[RGM]

It is sad that when people totally ignore the CAC Special warnings and end up dead, so preventable.

 

[pano-dude]

its all about snow pack conditions, this year took many experienced people by surprise.
can't really compare year to year, to many variables.

 

[Highfly]

Thanks all for the stats. I totally agree, this was a eye opener of a season for many.

 

[finndoo]

Here is stats that i found, curious how they have decided to separate skiing, and heli skiing, as well as snowboarding. The way they have done it makes it seem like snowmobiling is responsible for most avy fatalities.

 

[Highfly]

I agree! I'd call that 101 skiing related (if my math is correct) and 79 snowmobile.
What was going on in 2008- 2009 for sleds, Ouch!
02-03 was a bad your for skiing as well.

Looks like we were on the decline since 2009 until last year with the weird snow we had. Lets hope that drops down again.... well lets hope it's Zero!

 

[007sevens]

Just a word of caution....People here on this site lost fellow friends, riders, companions last year. I don't feel this to be appropriate. One of those "numbers" on that list was a experienced rider very close to home for me. I didn't know him but had rode with people that knew him. It's a tough pill to swallow. There is no way to totalling prepare yourself for an outback adventure of any kind and when you put yourself at risk to anything mother nature throws out, accidents will happen. Its high risk. I agree totally that we need to make people aware of the risks but please lets use caution when talking about the fallen.

 

[Highfly]

My condolences to anyone that lost or knew someone that lost a friend or family member. This post was not meant to be morbid but was more to bring awareness which you acknowledge. I totally agree with you and point taken.
As you said accidents will happen and that's not just with sledding. I'm sure we have lost fellow riders on the highways going to and from our favorite spots.
I think it is important to know the numbers to bring awareness. If these numbers were on the incline we are not getting it. Yes we take calculated risks. If our calculations are not correct accidents will happen. It's education that gives us the knowledge to make these calculations.

I feel that these numbers should be acknowledged to set an example that yes accidents do happen, and yes lives were lost not because of recklessness but how mother nature can and will throw us a curve ball and we better be ready for it. Last season was unlike anything we have seen and again needs to be recognized that the world is changing, we need to keep on our toes and continue with educating ourselves.

I am not the best at expressing myself, this post is with heartfelt thoughts for the ones that have fallen enjoying the sport we love so much.

 

[007sevens]

My condolences to anyone that lost or knew someone that lost a friend or family member. This post was not meant to be morbid but was more to bring awareness which you acknowledge. I totally agree with you and point taken.
As you said accidents will happen and that's not just with sledding. I'm sure we have lost fellow riders on the highways going to and from our favorite spots.
I think it is important to know the numbers to bring awareness. If these numbers were on the incline we are not getting it. Yes we take calculated risks. If our calculations are not correct accidents will happen. It's education that gives us the knowledge to make these calculations.

I feel that these numbers should be acknowledged to set an example that yes accidents do happen, and yes lives were lost not because of recklessness but how mother nature can and will throw us a curve ball and we better be ready for it. Last season was unlike anything we have seen and again needs to be recognized that the world is changing, we need to keep on our toes and continue with educating ourselves.

I am not the best at expressing myself, this post is with heartfelt thoughts for the ones that have fallen enjoying the sport we love so much.

I truly and sincerely Thank you for replying but its not a competition between groups. The same schooling applies to all outback adventurers. I've taken it and I HIGHLY recommend everybody to get it.