Snowboarding

The Unwritten Rules of Backcountry Riding

As delivered via this ABC news story on a couple that got stuck in the backcountry in a blizzard.

• If you’re stuck in the backcountry and have a cell phone, for the love of all things holy call for help.  These folks, thinking they were superstars because one was a doctor and one was a nurse, decided not to call for help until it was almost too late.
• Getting stuck in a blizzard is good for your love life. Or so say the two engaged lovebirds, now that they’ve survived the ordeal. It also helps distract folks from noticing how you got yourselves into the “stuck in the backcountry” ordeal in the first place.
• When going into the backcountry bring all the necessary tools and provisions. This includes food, water, an avalanche shovel, etc. Luckily, the couple had all of these things.
• Tell someone where you’re going. Otherwise, how will anyone know you’re gone?
• Bring your chequebook. Rescues ain’t free anymore, you know.

Seriously though, this is an ordeal that could have ended very differently. They are lucky to be alive. And they wouldn’t have gone through the ordeal in the first place if they had just made that one call.

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