Editor's Note: Erin Hart officially wrapped up his presidency of the BCSF earlier this spring. In his closing message he expressed his frustration over this season's snowmobile fatalities. Here is an edited version of his thoughts as they appeared in the BCSF's SnoScene newsletter.
As I write this, we have lost more snowmobilers in B.C. due to avalanches.
Our Region 2 zone director, Penny Cartwright, has quickly become our media person and is dealing non-stop with the barrage of media requests due to the recent deaths in the backcountry. She’s handling the task (as a volunteer) like a professional, but I can tell by our chats that it is taking a toll on her, her family, her friends and the rest of us within the BCSF.
The posts on Facebook have been numerous about the various snowmobile/avalanche tragedies. I read them and I shake my head in disbelief. With all the messaging from the BC Snowmobile Federation, Avalanche Canada and the various avalanche safety providers, we seem to have gained no ground in the safety message to the snowmobiling public.
I look back on my president’s message of September 2011. In response to the Boulder incident at the time, we had been summoned to Victoria by a number of the ministers and the attorney general. They wanted to know how organized snowmobiling was getting the safety message out to the rest of the snowmobiling community. I fear another visit to Victoria is likely imminent. Do I know what I need to say to government officials when they ask what needs to be done? No, not really. Do I have a sarcastic comment in my head that I would like to say to them? Yes, definitely! Ask me sometime what I would like to say and I will tell you in confidence.
In my past five years, I feel as if we have made no progress whatsoever. The Canadian Avalanche Centre (now Avalanche Canada) produced a fantastic safety video called Throttle Decisions about three seasons ago. A lot of time, effort and money went into the production of said DVD/video series, but has it helped? The manufacturers have stepped up and held safety meetings at their respective dealers across the province before each season starts—has that helped? Many clubs host avalanche safety classes through the winter—has that helped?
To say that I am a little disappointed, angry, frustrated (and whatever other description you would like to add) about the tragedies we are experiencing in the B.C. backcountry would be an understatement.
I read a statement on Facebook that really resonated with me and I want to share it (I take no credit for this, I just want to share).
“Seems like every week another loss due to avalanche. Having gear and training does not give you a free pass on the mountain. I have received several criticisms for not riding steep enough terrain this season. Yep, that’s right. I want to live to ride another day. Dying in an avalanche is not dying ‘doing what you love’ . . . you are crushed and suffocating alone in total darkness.”
And let’s get this straight. From my point of view and many others, it is just not you, the rider, that is affected by such a tragedy. Let’s point out the people that have to deal with it. Our friends at Search and Rescue (SAR), all volunteers, have to respond to said incidents. They most often have to put themselves at risk to respond to these problems. What about family, extended family, friends and members of your snowmobile club? It all takes an emotional toll, a toll that is paid by the people you leave behind. It’s unfortunate that my final message deals with such a harsh reality but as the saying goes, “It is what it is.”
