Avalanche survivor page 2

Page 1

www.thefreepress.ca

13

THE FREE PRESS Thursday, April 1, 2010

friends need avalanche training

Outline shows the avalanche path. The circle in the middle is where Todd was buried.

fly over the avalanche path in a helicopter, and could still see the hole that he was pulled out of. “It definitely made it real to see the actual size of it. It was quite remarkable,� he said. Todd says the experience has made him want to take every opportunity he can and not waste any days. He adds that he sees high-profile avalanche incidents differently. “I don’t like the way a lot of people judge people right away, without having all the information. The people it happens to are people who love what they are doing - we all know the risks, they might have made a mistake but whatever we do in life it’s guaranteed you will make a mistake at something eventually.� He says the key thing for any backcountry traveller is to ensure they have training and then to use that training to assess the terrain and conditions. “There is always the risk management side to it – you don’t jump straight into the big terrain, you have to read the avalanche bulletin in the morning and ask people who are out there a lot. “Do your own visual research - look for clues. “It will never eliminate the risks but you can control the risk. The only way you can do that is by going out and getting the education so you know what to look for.�

EVENT

“Shortly after that I opened my eyes and started mumbling. They said my first words were “We should take pictures.� The digital photos taken that day show that it took about 15 minutes from when the avalanche happened until Todd began breathing, and then another five minutes again to get him free. He was uninjured but was hypothermic so they decided to make their own way back to Fernie, meaning Todd had to get back on his snowboard to get down the mountain, then take a 10km snowmobile ride back to their trucks before driving to Fernie Hospital, where staff were waiting with heating blankets. Two hours later, Todd was released from hospital and, he admits, “there was a lot of alcohol involved that night – it probably wasn’t the wisest thing but it was the only way I got any sleep that night.� The next day Todd made himself go back to work taking photos of cat skiers at Island Lake Lodge. “I wasn’t going to give up on the backcountry – it happened it and it really sucked but I wasn’t going to let that stop me in any way,� he said. “Going back to Island Lake meant it was still the backcountry but I was with experienced guides and in controlled situations – it was a very good way to get back into it.� Several days later he had the chance to

UP TO

7000

$

IN CA SH CR ED

IT S

CE MAINTENAN

PLUS

W

‥

V

V

GM OWNERS SAVE AN ADDITIONAL

1000 1,000

$

ON SIERRAX

Sierra Ext. Cab SLE

â€

34 498

$

‥

+++++

FIVE-STAR SAFETY RATING9

ask about

ACADIA SLE

Best fuel consumption of any 8-seat CUV/SUV X

CE MAINTENAN W

EN AN CE US E ON MA INT ICE AN D SE RV HWY: 8.4L/100KM 34MPG CITY: 12.7L/100KM 22MPG∆

Canada’s Best Coverage

288Hp 3.6L, Direct Injection, V6, VVT ENGINE < 2((' .(&5310,& 651/$5,& 3$04/,44,10 < 6$. 45$*( 3,7(3 $44(0*(3 $,3%$*4 8,5+ 6223(44,10 $0' $44(0*(3 (5(&5,0* 945(/4 < $.1*(0 ($'.$/24 < 0 5$3> 8,5+ 9($3 ,3(&5,104 $0' 100(&5,104 .$0 8,5+ 630 %9 630 $7,*$5,10 ÂĽ < 5$%,., 3$-> < 3$&5,10 10531. < !(+,&.( +()5 (5(33(05 8,5+ .(&5310,& //1%,.,:(3 < 1.$3 $9> ,05(' ",0'184 < (/15( (9.(44 0539 < "+((.4

SIERRA SL EXT CAB 2WD â€

27 390

$

PLUS

PLUS

NOW AT YOUR BC PONTIAC BUICK GMC DEALERS. bcbuickgmc.ca 1-800-GM-DRIVE. Buick and GMC are brands of General Motors of Canada. 62010 ratings based on Natural Resources Canada’s 2010 Fuel Consumption Guide ratings. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. †Offers apply to the cash purchase of 2010 Acadia SLE FWD 1SA, Sierra SL Ext 2WD 1SF, equipped as described. Cash purchase prices reect discounts or other incentives which are only available on cash purchase offers. By selecting lease or ďŹ nancing offers, consumers will be foregoing such discounts and incentives which may result in higher effective interest rates. See your participating GM dealers for conditions and details. Freight included. License, insurance, registration, PPSA, administration fees and taxes not included. Offers apply to the purchase of 2009/2010 new or demonstrator models, dealer order or trade may be necessary, and applies only to qualiďŹ ed retail customers in BC/ Yukon. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited time offer which may not be combined with other offers. See your participating GM dealers for conditions and details. ‥$4,200 manufacturer to dealer delivery credit available on 2010 GMC Acadia SLE1 FWD 1SA (tax exclusive) for cash customers only. $4,200/$7000for 2010 Acadia SLE1 FWD 1SA and Sierra SL Ext 2WD 1SF reected in offers in this advertisement. Credit will impact the effective APR for ďŹ nance customers. See your GM Dealer for details. 9U.S. Government star ratings are part of the National Highway TrafďŹ c Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). For more information on safety ratings, go to www.safercar.gov . +Warranty based on 5 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes ďŹ rst. Excludes medium duty trucks. See Dealer for conditions and details. VThe Best Buy seal is a registered trademark of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license Service contract required. ÂĽOnStarÂŽ uses existing emergency service providers as well as cellular and satellite technologies. Vehicle electrical system needs to be operating for features to function properly. XBased on 2010 Energuide submissions/competitive websites. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. Excludes other GM vehicles. WWith purchase, ďŹ nance or lease of an eligible new 2009 or 2010 Model Year Chevrolet, Buick or GMC vehicle between March 2, 2010 and May 31, 2010, and with payment of an additional $0.01, customers receive a $750 pre-loaded Goodwrench Maintenance card (“Cardâ€?) at participating dealers in Canada. Ineligible models: Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette ZR1, Aveo and Cobalt; Pontiac G3, G5 and Vibe; Cadillac and Medium Duty Trucks. Eligible on Retail sales only. Offer applies to new or demonstrator models. Dealer order or trade may be required. A list of participating dealers can be obtained by calling 1-800- GM-DRIVE or by visiting goodwrench.ca. The Card can be applied towards the purchase of recommended vehicle service and maintenance, as speciďŹ ed in your vehicle owner’s manual, including auto detailing and/or any new GM approved part (excluding winter tire purchases) associated with the corresponding vehicle service or maintenance. The GM approved part must be either GM Original Equipment (OE) or ACDelco, purchased from General Motors. The purchased recommended service, maintenance and/or new GM approved part is only applicable on the eligible vehicle identiďŹ ed on the Card via the Vehicle IdentiďŹ cation Number (“VINâ€?). Eligible customers will receive the Card from their Dealer approximately 6-8 weeks after vehicle purchase. Customer must present the Card at time of maintenance, service or parts purchase. Facsimiles and photocopies will not be accepted. For lost or stolen cards, please contact 1-866-874-9018 (fee may be applied for card replacement). Card expires thirty six (36) months after date of vehicle purchase as indicated on Card. Card is not VIN transferrable and may not be redeemed for cash. This offer may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives available on GM vehicles. GMCL may modify, extend or terminate this offer in whole or in part at any time without notice. Additional conditions and limitations apply. Void where prohibited by law. See your GM dealer for details. *Class is fullsize pickup truck under 3855kg (8500lbs.) X$1,000 is a manufacturer to consumer incentive and is tax inclusive ($880.00 reduced purchase price plus $120.00 applicable taxes). Such credit may be applied only to the purchase/ďŹ nance/lease of a new 2009 or 2010 GMC Sierra delivered by March 31, 2010. Offer applies to current owners/lessees of any GM vehicle; vehicle must have been registered and insured in customer’s name for previous consecutive 6 months. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details.

Photo by T. Weselake

me and blew me off the tree backwards. I landed on my back on the snow and that part started to slab so I was sliding backwards down slightly under the surface but I could still see light so I was pretty sure I was okay. “As it started to slow down I actually yelled up ‘I’m ok’ but, as I yelled, the remainder of the avalanche hit me and plunged me downhill. “I was on my back trying to swim but could feel it pushing me deeper and deeper under still. “Then it just stopped - I couldn’t move my fingers, couldn’t move my arms or anything. All I could think was I’m dead. I was 100 per cent convinced I was dead at that point, that I was way too deep to get me out in time. Then I passed out.� Watching the avalanche from above, Janina and Ian followed their training – first checking the area was safe, then switching their own transceivers to “receive� mode before covering the area in search of a signal from Todd’s beacon. They finally got a signal several hundred metres away at the crown of the avalanche and probed the snow until they hit his helmet, 2 metres down. Following the new digging technique, they dug into the slope, first clearing Todd’s head and then chest of snow. “My camera bag was around my chest,� says Todd. “When they took it off, all the weight came off my chest with it so my lungs filled up with air and I started breathing.

‥

+++++

FIVE-STAR SAFETY RATING9

Best In Class Available Horsepower & Torque*

CE MAINTENAN W

EN AN CE US E ON MA INT ICE AN D SE RV HWY: 11.4L/100KM 25MPG CITY: 15.9L/100KM 18MPG∆

bcbuickgmc.ca

Call Coal Valley Motor Products at 250-423-9288, or visit us at 16 Manitou Road, Fernie. [License #9819]

302Hp 4.8L V8 SFI ENGINE < 2((' 651/$5,& 3$04/,44,10 < 3105$. 3,7(3 $44(0*(3 ,3%$*4 8,5+ ($' 635$,0 ,'( /2$&5 ,3%$*4 < $.1*(0 ($'.$/24 < 0 5$3> 8,5+ #($3 1) 5+( $)( $0' 160' .$0 ÂĽ < 5$%,.,53$-> < !(+,&.( +()5 (5(33(05 8,5+ .(&5310,& //1%,.,:(3 < "+((. 05,.1&- 3$-(4 < 1.$3 $9> ,05(' ",0'184 < = "+((.4

Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.