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Kicking Horse out-of-bounds skiier dead after missing for 10 days...

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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
 found this on TGR

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...rt-rescue.html

talk about some incompetent search and rescue
Feb 25 2009 11:04PM
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SteezethePirate
Posts: 506 - Karma: 34
thats kind of ignorant on some of the people's fault, people don't usually run around out of bounds and make SOS signals for fun
Feb 25 2009 11:22PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i would argue that the skiers are even more responsible. the money time manpower etc that goes into a search cant just be thrown around. they checked to see if there were any missing skiers reported, and there werent... what were they gonna do?
Feb 26 2009 1:33AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
FUCK.

This is not a good thing, given all the noise that was made around here about banning BC skiing altogether earlier in the season.
Feb 26 2009 1:37AM
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fsscott
Posts: 4684 - Karma: 114
that sucks, but i agree that it's more the ladies fault for not telling anyone where she was going or skiing with a buddy which is crucial and rule #1 even before helmets i'd say

i don't even know if i should say vibes to the family cause I'm not sure how you could lose someone for 10 days...
Feb 26 2009 1:42AM
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fsscott
Posts: 4684 - Karma: 114
shit i bite my tounge, take back most of what i said haha i should really read the article first not what people on NS just write

my bad ns
Feb 26 2009 1:43AM
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grambo
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 93
Terrible situation, but it's CLEARLY willful ignorance on the part of the skiers, they dropped past a boundary rope into a drainage that goes nowhere, I'm sorry but it's not an accident when you IGNORE the signs and media coverage of the danger of backcountry.

Maybe they should ban backcountry hiking and camping the next time someone wanders off with no idea of where they are going.

Bad situation all around, terrible for the guy to watch his wife die in those conditions, sucks for SAR, sounds like it was the RCMP's fault since they have to initiate search requests to SAR don't they?
Feb 26 2009 2:36AM
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stonedTEX
Posts: 256 - Karma: 31
it is def 100% the two skiers fault.  typically when you get lost it is your own fault. that said the SAR and RCMP fucked up huge.  someone reports seeing multiple SOS's in the snow on multiple occasions and all you do is check the missing persons reports and if someone hasn't returned there rentals. that is some stupid shit.  the worst part is that despite being notified twice SAR still had to have someone else find the lost survivor before they even got off there asses. fuck fuck fuck
Feb 26 2009 3:18AM
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highaltNM
Posts: 552 - Karma: 52
http://www.rei.com/product/766529?cm_mmc=ps_google_CH-_-Category%20-%20Camp%2fHike-_-TTO_Brand_SPOT-_-spot%20gps%20locator&mr:adGroup=388582805&mr:ad=2696916875&mr:keyword=spot%20gps%20locator&mr:referralID=NA&gclid=CLSan93X-pgCFQpinAod5kfCmg

And thats why I have one of these.....
Feb 26 2009 12:15PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
it might be the skiers fault that they got into that situation, but its search and rescue's fault that she ended up dead. I also think its bulshit to keep saying "oh she should have signed in" yea of course she should have, but I would think that the multiple sightings of 'sos' signs would send out the same message that someone is missing. Search and rescue's excuse of "there are no missing persons reported" is fucking retarded, there is no way you are going to able to keep tabs on everyone there and know for sure that nobody is missing. Maybe they thought the 'sos' signs were a joke?
Feb 26 2009 12:34PM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
You guys are terrible, this is a horrible tragedy and you guys are playing the blame game. RIP.
Feb 26 2009 12:41PM
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Scott~
Posts: 2551 - Karma: 49
Thats generally what you do, so you know, that maybe it doesnt happen again?~
Feb 26 2009 1:15PM
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yellav
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 1,217
Feb 26 2009 1:19PM
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Keith_T
Posts: 10 - Karma: 10
Wow that's sad, hope that doesn't happen to me. How did the skiers get lost? They went out of bounds?
Feb 26 2009 1:24PM
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TimmyP
Posts: 2086 - Karma: 128
Wait, did they tell anyone what they were doing?
Really good journalism
Feb 26 2009 1:32PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
because with the number of avalanche deaths every year, its fucking ridiculous people arent learning.

see the fact that half the people in this thread are blaming it on search and rescue. it shouldnt have to be their job in the first place, people shouldnt be this fucking stupid.
Feb 26 2009 2:06PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
your argument doesn't really make sense. yes there are stupid people, thats the main reason search and rescue exists. It is their job to save stupid people and they failed miserably in this case.

if someone was involved in a car crash because of their own stupidity you're going to tell me that the paramedics shouldn't be required to help them after numerous other motorists reported the accident to the 911 dispatcher?
Feb 26 2009 5:44PM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
some people don't learn because they turn apeshit as soon as they see the powder and the immense alpine terrain;
when I was in Whistler, some people from Quebec we kinda knew managed to pull out some stupid shit like going OB when the avy danger was extreme (1st/2nd week of Jan.). They where used to ski in miniature hills back on the East Coast, so they just went crazy when the saw that soft and deep snow you could ski in existed, and they ignored our warnings not to duck the rope in these conditions. Thank God nothing happened to them, despite their lack of common sense.

a part of the blame goes on the skiers, they went out of bounds without equipment of anything, and it seems once they got lost they kept moving instead of staying at a certain point.

but the SAR and RCMP are to blame too, I mean, who takes SOS signs written in the snow kilometers away from any civilization as a joke or something an elk did
Feb 26 2009 5:50PM
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rYb
Posts: 944 - Karma: -12
Deffiently the skiers fault why go into the backcountry without telling anyone? Plus did they not have cell phones? wierd situation/

BUT STILL, why didnt they respond to SOS signals?
Feb 26 2009 5:53PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
not a good comparison

your 'mcdonalds' would be the actual resort who posted the signs and stuff, not the search and rescue team.
Feb 26 2009 6:20PM
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geet
Posts: 2436 - Karma: 6
u dont just dissapear into the backcountry.. not smart
Feb 26 2009 6:32PM
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zylstra
Posts: 3613 - Karma: 125
thats shits fucked. backcountry
Feb 26 2009 6:44PM
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wnab21
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 18
both are to blame
Feb 26 2009 6:57PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
yea I know the story, but this situation isn't about the resort's failure to post warnings. It is about search and rescue ignoring multiple sightings of sos signs and failing to react once it became apparent that someone had ignored/misunderstood those warnings and skied out of bounds
Feb 26 2009 7:36PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
it takes an incredible amount of manpower and time to search and rescue though. and they checked, no one had been reported missing. i fail to see how its their fault, for all they know they could have been old/a mistake, etc.
Feb 26 2009 8:10PM
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St.Steezy
Posts: 4228 - Karma: 20
wow.. how eager people are to voice their opinion with ignorance of the story/subject.
Feb 26 2009 8:15PM
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garrett.
Posts: 9304 - Karma: 3,670
why didn't they turn around and walk back up their tracks? i'm unfamiliar with the terrain but that seems like a logical thing to do.
Feb 26 2009 8:20PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
so the reasoning for not checking it out is that its too hard? They go through all that training, then when MULTIPLE sos signs are spotted all they do is read a list of names that is obviously not going to be 100% accurate? Seriously, what more evidence would you need before you decided to go have a look.


Feb 26 2009 8:36PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
no not that its too hard, that there wasnt enough evidence to warrant a search and rescue mission.
Feb 26 2009 8:38PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,622
Just terrible.

I received an email from Kicking Horse.

Media Statement
Golden BC: overdue traveler and backcountry rescue.
Our sincerest sympathies go out to the family and friends of those involved.
On Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 Kicking Horse Mountain Resort was notified by
Purcell Helicopter Skiing of SOS tracks in the snow outside of the resorts
controlled recreation area. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort management
immediately contacted Golden Search and Rescue. The resort also conducted a
base area search which included checking for vehicles left in surface area
parking lots overnight. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort also informed night-time
snow grooming operators and security personal to watch for any backcountry
skiers entering the ski area. There were no results of this search producing any
evidence of potentially missing persons.
On Saturday, February 21st, 2009 the Golden RCMP informed Kicking Horse
Mountain Resort that Purcell Helicopter Skiing had provided them (RCMP) with
information about more SOS tracks in the backcountry. The Golden RCMP
opened a file and had no reports of any missing persons.
Tuesday, February 24th,2009 at approximately 10:30am on Kicking Horse
Mountain Resort was notified that a search and rescue was underway in the
backcountry outside the resort’s controlled recreation area. At approximately
noon, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Management was informed by the Golden
RCMP that a skier was rescued outside Kicking Horse Mountain Resort’s
controlled recreation area in the backcountry. The resort management was later
informed that the body of the second skier was recovered by search and rescue.
The Golden RCMP is currently investigating the incident and all inquiries are to
be directed towards the RCMP.
Any additional inquiries should be directed directly to the Golden detachment of
the RCMP at (250) 344-2221.
Steve Paccagnan
President and General Manager
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort




I don't really know much else.
Feb 26 2009 8:39PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,622
Also, on behalf of Kicking Horse, I send my regards to the family and hope they will all be alright
Feb 26 2009 8:44PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
god I'm done with this thread, I have no idea who you are so don't take this personally but you are fucking retarded. seriously
Feb 26 2009 8:46PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
dude. read what they did. its incredibly expensive to search. i understand it sucks, it would be nice if they could just go search every time. but they took a bunch of precautions and it didnt look like anyone was missing.
Feb 26 2009 8:48PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
ok I lied I'm back and maybe you're not a retard. But those precautions are so incredibly small and unimportant (not to mention horribly unreliable) when compared to the SOS signs. Where did they think the signs came from?

"it would be nice if they could search everytime"
I just think they should search everytime that multiple sos signs are spotted.

I feel like I'm just saying "multiple sos signs" over and over and I'm just talking to myself.
Feb 26 2009 9:00PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i see where your coming from. and i do think they could have done a slightly better job. but the majority of the responsibility is on the skiers, for not having food, etc with them. not knowing where the fuck they were going apparently. and most importantly, not telling anyone where they were.
Feb 26 2009 9:06PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,082
you mean aside from the multiple SOS signs? Yea, why didn't they just phone a friend, or yell.
Feb 26 2009 9:17PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i meant before they left dumbass
Feb 26 2009 10:01PM
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birdshake
Posts: 1228 - Karma: 71
well we definitly dont know the whole story

I mean its possible the woman hurt herself pretty bad and was unable to hike back up and her husband didnt want to leave her. maybe thats why she died and not him.

they still should have told someone that they were going into the back country

but then again it is possible for them to be skiing along the boundry and the woman could have fallen and just rag dolled all the way down.

Im just saying we dont know the full story
Feb 26 2009 10:03PM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
That's not a good example. It would be more like a drunk driver crashes into a post. Him and his passenger can't get out of the car. A cop drives by, see's the car crashed into the pole and just ignores it. Ten days later another cop drives by, and tries to save them. But by this time the passenger didn't make it.

Who's fault is it for ignoring such an obvious sign that something is wrong? Who cares if the guy was drinking!
Feb 26 2009 11:05PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
more like a guy goes out and crashes his car.

someone sees a semi telltale sign there may be a car crash, but instead of instigating an expensive and time consuming search, the check to see if anyone has reported a missing persons/car. noone has
10 days later they find out that someone did vanish, because they were supposed to be somewhere. then they search and find them
Feb 26 2009 11:12PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
ok you're retarded again.


Feb 26 2009 11:22PM
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canudoa9
Posts: 382 - Karma: 99
kicking horse has no snow at all right now
Feb 26 2009 11:23PM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
Is SOS written on the side of a mountain not obvious enough that something is wrong!

Yeah these two people were being stupid to put themselves in the situation they did, BUT. When in that situation they did what should do to be rescued! They signaled for help! Then it was spotted, reported and then fucking ignored. Sorry that's just not right
Feb 26 2009 11:24PM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
Do you think she deserved to die?
Feb 26 2009 11:37PM
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Stan_Darsh
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 185
its pretty easy to get lost at a mountain you arent familiar with.. and then it all spirals down hill from there..
Feb 26 2009 11:37PM
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inactive
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 97
even if it is the skiiers fault, they left a fucking SOS
Feb 26 2009 11:39PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
to be brutally honest, yes. its sad. and i feel for her family, but if you dont take the proper precautions, you get what you fucking had coming.

its no different that the guy who refuses to wear a seatbelt, and then gets chucked through the windshield and dies.

its sad, but its what they had coming
Feb 26 2009 11:42PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i shouldnt say deserved to die. but its hard to feel bad about someone that dumb.

and i hope her death can serve as a lesson to other people, not that it ever does.
Feb 26 2009 11:47PM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
Okay so, she didn't deserve to die.
But she deserved to not be rescued?

I'm not blaming SAR for her death, but like you said this horrible tragedy could've been easily avoided.

How could this not be considered a LAST option here? One of them died for crap sakes!
Feb 26 2009 11:48PM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
PS
I don't like arguing. We each have our opinion, and I do see where you're coming from. I know the way I feel about it, and I see how some of you feel.

All in all, it is horrible news. No one should die skiing!
RIP and good vibes to the family


Feb 26 2009 11:52PM
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Stan_Darsh
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 185
i don't understand what is so dumb about it. you telling me youve never ducked a rope OR got lost?
Feb 26 2009 11:54PM
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