Do highmarking snowmobilers ever give a thought to those whose lives they will impact if they trigger an avalanche? Based on the frequency of avalanche deaths from highmarking, it appears doubtful.
Selfishly they are concerned only with “doing what they love.” Nor can they care much about the happiness of their loved ones.
Instead, I expect they must think to themselves, “So what if I died under 20 feet of snow (how likely is that to happen?) and left my young wife to raise our three little kids by herself? I deserve to spend some time doing what I love.” We don’t know what a highmarker thinks as he guns for the top seconds before an avalanche tumbles him and his machine like corks in a wind tunnel.
They musn’t even care about the safety of their snowmobiling companions. To highmark when others are sitting below, watching their shenanigans, shows no consideration for their saner friends either. Do those waiting at the bottom of the mountain, directly in the path of any avalanche, also suffer from that teenage misapprehension, “It won’t happen to me.” Could they not observe the harebrained manoeuvres from a safer vantage point?
Those who miraculously survive can’t argue they didn’t know about the avalanche risk. If they weren’t aware of the risks, why would they be carrying a beeper, a probe, a shovel and other standard safety equipment? To look cool? Or to show off the hi-tech equipment they were given for Christmas?
Ignorance is no excuse. Periodically along Highway 16 B.C. Highways has posted signs, “Snowmobilers Check Avalanche Conditions”. And when conditions are extreme, avalanche warnings often lead TV newscasts.
In addition, every winter courses are offered to create awareness and educate people on how to deal with avalanches: understanding backcountry terrain and how the geography works with the snow to cause an avalanche; demonstrations relating to common techniques of assessing stability. People practice beacon searches, and are shown the proper and most efficient technique for getting someone dug out of the snow as fast and safe as possible.
Yet all that training is for nought if the snowmobiler insists on recklessly challenging unstable snow where even someone with impaired vision can recognize a voluminous overhang of powder poised to thunder down at the slightest jar.
I have no sympathy for highmarkers who lose their lives. The people I feel for are those who play no part in instigating these avalanche deaths, but are depended upon to clean up the carnage.
Why should RCMP and search and rescue volunteers scramble every winter weekend to recover bodies of highmarkers? Police and searchers deserve free time for their own choice of pursuits.
Sure, search and rescue personnel enjoy the outdoors or they wouldn’t volunteer. But let them spend time in the wilderness for their own enjoyment, not spend weekends mopping up some macho man’s mischief.
Imagine how Mounties near avalanche-prone backcountry must look forward to each winter weekend -- the weather is fine, the snow is deep and powdery, and they just know thoughtless riders will be converging from miles to tempt trouble on dangerous slopes. Can you picture their eagerness to coordinate one more recovery operation?
And while RCMP members from nearby detachments slog along in some hard to reach valley plunging probes into churned snow littered with rocks and splintered tree trunks, citizens are criticizing cops for ignoring speeders and distracted drivers. Well, no one can be in two places.
Snowmobilers could “do what they love” dodging trees on the flat. No avalanche necessary.