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#167919 - 02/26/09 12:45 AM Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry
Sherpadog
Unregistered


This news article is tragic on many accounts....

DAWN WALTON
Globe and Mail Update
February 25, 2009 at 7:10 PM EST

During nearly 10 days stranded in the British Columbia backcountry, a pair of lost skiers stamped SOS signs in the snow — distress signals that were reported by helicopter pilots and skiers — but nobody went to look for them.

It wasn't until Tuesday morning that a helicopter pilot flying near Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in the B.C. interior noticed another SOS. As he was preparing to jot down the co-ordinates, he also saw signs of life.

“The pilot flew over the area, spotted someone on the ground waving who appeared to be in distress,” RCMP Constable Annie Linteau said Wednesday.


Full news article here


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#167931 - 02/26/09 02:20 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: ]
Blast Offline
INTERCEPTOR
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 3760
Loc: TX
Quote:
“They made the decision to go out of bounds and got lost,” Constable Linteau said.

The pair had only a couple of granola bars between them and no water when they slipped outside the patrolled confines of the resort,


"Tragic' only in that it could have been so easily prevented...

-Blast
_________________________
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#167933 - 02/26/09 02:41 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: Blast]
Sherpadog
Unregistered


Originally Posted By: Blast
Quote:
“They made the decision to go out of bounds and got lost,” Constable Linteau said.

The pair had only a couple of granola bars between them and no water when they slipped outside the patrolled confines of the resort,


"Tragic' only in that it could have been so easily prevented...

-Blast


Exactly....

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#167935 - 02/26/09 02:45 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: ]
Chris Kavanaugh Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/09/01
Posts: 3824
The story states 'they became disoriented and got lost.' So, Did they go out of bonds deliberately or by accident, and is this reason for the 'constables'rather cold assesssment?
A big canadian EH?

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#167939 - 02/26/09 03:05 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: Chris Kavanaugh]
Susan Offline
Geezer

Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
It looks like a major screw-up on both sides.

Did the authorities think the BEARS were making the SOS in the snow??? SOMEONE was out there, and had signaled that they were in trouble, and a bunch of mental zeros ignored it.

I'm sure this isn't the first time they've had people go out of bounds in BC. Unless, of course, they're all still out there, frozen or eaten.

Sue

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#167940 - 02/26/09 03:06 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: Chris Kavanaugh]
Andrew_S Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 59
That's appalling.

Regardless of their questionable decisions, the response to a distress signal in the snow is to count the rental skis and check the cars in the parking lot?

They were out there ten days. The granola bars and lack of water is a red herring, a detail released by the police to emphasize the mistakes of the victims -- it sure as hell didn't kill them. Neither did going out of bounds kill them, directly. What killed them was (a) getting lost and (b) the failure of the authorities to respond to their distress signals.

Everyones covering his ass. I hope there's a coroner's inquest on this one.

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#167941 - 02/26/09 03:07 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: Andrew_S]
Desperado Offline
Veteran

Registered: 11/01/08
Posts: 1530
Loc: DFW, Texas
Sure am glad I am not the head of that agency...
_________________________
I do the things that I must, and really regret, are unfortunately necessary.

RIP OBG

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#167948 - 02/26/09 03:34 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: Desperado]
BruceZed Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 01/06/08
Posts: 319
Loc: Canada
Sad and unfortunate since it was avoidable. A Beacon and or a Routecard along with a proper SAR effort once the SOS was seen.
_________________________
Bruce Zawalsky
Chief Instructor
Boreal Wilderness Institute
boreal.net

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#167959 - 02/26/09 05:44 AM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: BruceZed]
frediver Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 05/17/04
Posts: 215
Loc: N.Cal.
Bad on both sides.

This can/will also be bad for tourism to B.C. and can/could be made much worse depending on how the local authorities deal
with the situation.

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#167970 - 02/26/09 02:07 PM Re: Woman dies after pair lost in backcountry [Re: frediver]
KenK Offline
"Be Prepared"
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/26/04
Posts: 2208
Loc: NE Wisconsin
VERY sad. I can only begin to imagine the hell they went through.

This is an all too common story. They never intended to be out that long. They were dressed/equipped just fine for their intended activity.

The fact that the gentleman survived is a testiment to their efforts to survive.

A $100 GPS would have most likely saved the woman's life ... assuming the batteries wouldn't have failed (I don't buy the GPS's are worthless since they run on batteries rant). Of course the journey back may have been difficult through that terrain.

A $450 PLB would have quickly brought rescue teams to them.

With with all due respect, I wonder if her family feels that her life was worth the $450?

THAT is why I own and carry a PLB when out in the 'field'.

Ken

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