From Stowe Mountain Rescue
Two nights ago, we had a mission that took us into epic snow on the ridge of Mt Mansfield to rescue a disoriented skier who had lost the trail.
This was a fit and experienced local backcountry skier with all the equipment we would want him to be carrying and a good head on his shoulders. He had the Gaia map on his phone and was familiar with his intended route.
Familiar, that is, until a boat load of snow and blowing conditions made everything unfamiliar.
When the snow level gets high enough, even a solid established path like the Long Trail becomes invisible, as the normal channel between the trees is buried. And the blowing snow had obliterated his own tracks when he tried to retrace his route.
Realizing he had lost the trail, he pulled out his compass to try to establish a direction of travel. But his compass was squirrelly, telling him North one moment and South the next – we suspect interference from the nearby radio towers. So disconcerting!
Realizing he had no way of orienting himself and suspecting he was going in circles, he did the necessary work to secure his safety. He dug a shelter and then called for help just before darkness set in.
Our thoughtful subject would like to share his perspective with regard to ‘lessons learned’. Although he was carrying some good stuff – headlamp, emergency whistle, a thermos of warm broth (boy, that will have tasted good!), and spare mittens, he said in future he would want to be better prepared to ride out a long, cold wait.
For him, this meant beefier environmental protection: an emergency blanket, a second spare pair of mittens and a full spare layer, both top and bottom. Whether he could have started a fire in those conditions is doubtful, but we always recommend a firestarting kit.
Our subject’s main takeaway: be extra cautious in deep snow conditions. The terrain looks different. Throw a blizzard into the mix and the goalposts shift and disappear.
Our observation: one thing he didn’t have with him is a ski buddy. His turned around earlier in the day. Had they stuck together there would have been two brains, not one, to troubleshoot the wayfinding. And in the event of an accident, having a friend with you could be the single element that saves your life.
We’re grateful for the thoughtful way our subject has reviewed his experience. We look forward to running into him again under different circumstances!