Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#258173 - 03/27/13 07:06 PM Another fatality on a snowed-in road
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
A Sunday drive gone wrong. Three seniors got onto a road not normally maintained in winter, and got stuck. One (71!) tried to walk out for help. He made it 15 km and was found dead the next day, 6 km short of getting help.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/03/26/calgary-crowsnest-snowmobile-death.html

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/albe...5831/story.html

The takeaway is to keep repeating this message to people: unless you are fit, skilled, and have adequate clothing, stay with the vehicle, stay with the vehicle, stay with the vehicle. And, insist on putting an old cell phone with car charger and instructions in every vehicle glove box despite all objections.


Edited by dougwalkabout (03/27/13 07:08 PM)

Top
#258227 - 03/28/13 04:21 PM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: dougwalkabout]
TeacherRO Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 2574
Also, Canada in Winter requires specialized clothing. And its still Winter up there.

Top
#258232 - 03/28/13 05:19 PM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: dougwalkabout]
bacpacjac Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
So sad.

Les Stroud did a Discovery Channel special called "Lost in the Snow", where he analysized what one couple on "I Shouldn't Be Alive" did when their truck broke down and they were stranded flr 9 days in the middle of nowhere Navada in the middle of winter. He shows what to do to survive a similar situation.

Of course, the best strategy is to not get stuck in the first
place to have a rescue plan in place in case you do.
_________________________
Mom & Adventurer

You can find me on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9fpZEy5XSWkYy7sgz-mSA

Top
#258258 - 03/29/13 03:46 AM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: dougwalkabout]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3219
Loc: Alberta, Canada
An unnecessary death is certainly sad, but it's equally frustrating because it didn't have to happen.

In this case, they had told someone when they were expected back, so they would have been reported as overdue.

The man tried to walk out in the afternoon. And then, the next morning, the two women tried to walk out and were met by searchers. None had adequate clothing.

If they had just stayed with the vehicle, they would have been fine. Argh!

Top
#258262 - 03/29/13 05:08 AM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: dougwalkabout]
ireckon Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/01/10
Posts: 1629
Loc: Northern California
Here's what would have happened with any combination of two females in my life. They would have gotten a little cold in the car, but it would have been "freezing" if you had asked them. In short order, they both would have been looking at me and bugging me to do something, anything. (Now, until I read this thread, I'm ashamed to admit, I did not know the importance of staying with the car.) So, me being me, I would have gotten out the car to go find help, just like this man did.

It's easy to armchair quarterback, but I think it's better to look at a situation from different angles. We all do dumb stuff, especially heterosexual men when a damsel is in distress. Hopefully, this guy died feeling like he was attempting something heroic, as opposed to feeling like a loser.
_________________________
If you're reading this, it's too late.

Top
#258265 - 03/29/13 05:49 AM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: dougwalkabout]
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
A Sunday drive gone wrong. Three seniors got onto a road not normally maintained in winter, and got stuck.

I can't believe we have seniors who think a drive down an unmaintained snowy road in the middle of nowhere is "a Sunday drive". I wonder if senility figured into the picture?

Top
#258274 - 03/29/13 12:43 PM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: haertig]
bacpacjac Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted By: haertig
Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
A Sunday drive gone wrong. Three seniors got onto a road not normally maintained in winter, and got stuck.


I can't believe we have seniors who think a drive down an unmaintained snowy road in the middle of nowhere is "a Sunday drive". I wonder if senility figured into the picture?


It's possible they didn't realize the road wasn't maintained in winter. The Kim family didn't. Situations like this one happen to people in all ages and stages of life. Don't be fooled into thinking "That would never happen to me because I'm not old like them." (Not saying that's what you're doing, haertig, just pointing it out for other's sake.)

That said, senility could have been a factor. A good reminder to keep an eye on older loved ones.
_________________________
Mom & Adventurer

You can find me on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9fpZEy5XSWkYy7sgz-mSA

Top
#258281 - 03/29/13 02:01 PM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: bacpacjac]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
They were only 71, 69, and 66. But just growing old doesn't guarantee that they would have acquired relevant experience for the situation they faced.
_________________________
Geezer in Chief

Top
#258284 - 03/29/13 02:41 PM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: hikermor]
bacpacjac Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
I totally agree, hikermor!

We've all dealt with people who think they're wise just because they have a few years under their belt. Likewise, some people find it easy to dismiss others because of they're getting old.

People get overconfident and end up under prepared - be it in equipment, experience or knowledge - for a number of reasons. Add to that the reality that we don't don't know what we don't know, and you have the holy trinity of impending disaster. It usually takes a series of small missteps to add up to a survival situation, and it's very easy to be blind to your own risk factors because they don't exactly replicate someone else's.
_________________________
Mom & Adventurer

You can find me on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9fpZEy5XSWkYy7sgz-mSA

Top
#258286 - 03/29/13 02:52 PM Re: Another fatality on a snowed-in road [Re: bacpacjac]
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
I wasn't trying to say "I'm not old like them". I'm getting close. 56. But maybe it's just my more conservative nature. I would look at some snow covered road in the middle of nowhere and say, "No way am I driving down that path!" And as I get older, I get more and more careful in what I do.

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 295 Guests and 21 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
What did you do today to prepare?
by dougwalkabout
Yesterday at 11:21 PM
Zippo Butane Inserts
by dougwalkabout
Yesterday at 11:11 PM
Question about a "Backyard Mutitool"
by Ren
03/17/24 01:00 AM
Problem in my WhatsApp configuration
by Chisel
03/09/24 01:55 PM
New Madrid Seismic Zone
by Jeanette_Isabelle
03/04/24 02:44 PM
EDC Reduction
by EchoingLaugh
03/02/24 04:12 PM
Using a Compass Without a Map
by KenK
02/28/24 12:22 AM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.