23 replies to this topic

[Skiing#1]

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4919024

Rescuers work throughout night to retrieve two missing from Powder Mountain
By Patrick DeLany
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 12/29/2006 08:17:21 AM MST


Posted: 8:16 AM- Teams from Weber and Cache counties worked throughout the night in severe weather to rescue a snowboarder and a skier from the Powder Mountain ski resort.
Both calls came in around 5:30 p.m. Thursday; the last victim was taken off the mountain around 7 a.m. Friday, said Lt. Jeff Malan, the search and rescue coordinator for Weber County.
James Davol, a snowboarder from Austin, Texas, was last seen by friends around 2 p.m. Thursday in Hidden Lake Lodge, Malan said. The 21-year-old was reported missing about 2- hours later, and the ski patrol was dispatched to search the mountain.
When the skiers had no luck, snowmobilers were sent out and found his tracks in an area known as "The Lefties," Malan said. The searchers made voice contact with Davol, and finally reached him in a canyon around 10:30 p.m. He had a knee injury, was shaking uncontrollably and was disoriented, the lieutenant said.
It was lucky the searchers found Davol when they did, Malan said. "He was going downhill fast."
The rescuers built a fire to warm Davol, and the sheriff's office sent a Snowcat to pick him up. Davol was checked out by medical technicians and released, Malan said.
An Ogden man night skiing was reported missing around the same time the search began for Davol.
Alex Stcherbinine was following some friends through trees and never came out, Malan said.
"We found him five miles away, in the opposite direction," he said.
Stcherbinine wasn't injured and had started walking out of Paradise Canyon in the direction of Logan. Ski patrol members stayed with him and until Cache County Search and Rescue could reach him from their side of the mountain and take him, Malan said.
"They just got him out at 7 o'clock (Friday morning)," the lieutenant said.
Malan said the weather hampered both searches.
"It's ugly weather up there," he said. "All day yesterday and last night, it was gusting around 45 mph, blowing snow. Visibility was about 5 feet. We had to rely on GPS to get around up there on our snowmobiles."

[wally]

I was there Thursday, checking out the new lift.
The most socked in day I have seen in 33 years of skiing there - top to bottom.
It was fog and not snow or blowing snow up until about 3:30 , half hour before the lifts close.
At that point the sun came out and cleared the rest of the afternoon.
If one was not in the trees, well..... Vertigo .
There have been times at Powder when it was thicker but not top to bottom all day long.

[Skiing#1]

Now this is fourth time at Powder Mountain. I am puzzling and wonder why only one Powder Mountain has problem that skiers and snowboarders get lost.

Here is http://deseretnews.c...0191503,00.html

5 lost skiers found unharmed

Wisconsin men had become disoriented in Paradise Valley

By Pat Reavy Deseret Morning News

Five Wisconsin men who got lost while skiing Powder Mountain were found safe Tuesday afternoon.

The men, all friends and relatives between 30 and 40 years old, had checked out of their Huntsville lodging Monday. They left their bags there and planned on picking them up after a day of skiing before they headed to the airport, said Weber County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryon Hadley.

The group never returned for their bags, however, and family members called police after the men failed to show up on their flight home.

The sheriff's office wasn't notified that the men were missing until 11 a.m. Tuesday. By noon, Weber County Sheriff's Search and Rescue unit along with a Department of Public Safety helicopter had located the men's rental car in the Powder Mountain parking lot and began a search.

Just two hours later, all five men were found in the Paradise Valley area of Cache County. It's close to an area where two 14-year-old girls became lost skiing and snowboarding last week. Those girls were also rescued safely.

The men, unfamiliar with the area, became disoriented, Hadley said. They were fairly well dressed for the conditions and had some light snacks, he said. They used pine boughs to sleep on and cover themselves. Group members said they would sleep an hour, then get up and move around before sleeping another hour, Hadley said.

He estimated the temperature in that area got down to between 0 and 10 degrees Tuesday night.
Their condition when they were found was not life-threatening.


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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com

[wolfmtnmikey]

The reason so many people get lost at Powder Mountain is that the resort is ass backwards you have to take all the chairs out at the end of the day except for Sundown which you just ski to the bottom. All the other chairs are below the main parking area and if you are late and miss sweep and head below Timberline then Paradise your on your way to Hyrum or Logan that are twenty miles away. This happens every year with sometimes as many as 6 or 7 lost parties going out of bounds and getting lost. I also forgot to mention they use a sign at the bottoms of these lifts that says "DO NOT GET ON LIFT OPERATOR IS ON WAY TO TOP LIFT MAY STOP AT ANY TIME" which is put in the middle of the ramp with some lift maze ribbon blocking the entrance but you get someone that goes around then up the lift then it shuts off and they are stuck there all night. It doesnt happen all the time but it does occasionaly.

Skiing#1, on Jan 31 2007, 06:22 AM, said:

Now this is fourth time at Powder Mountain. I am puzzling and wonder why only one Powder Mountain has problem that skiers and snowboarders get lost.

Here is http://deseretnews.c...0191503,00.html

5 lost skiers found unharmed

Wisconsin men had become disoriented in Paradise Valley

By Pat Reavy Deseret Morning News

Five Wisconsin men who got lost while skiing Powder Mountain were found safe Tuesday afternoon.

The men, all friends and relatives between 30 and 40 years old, had checked out of their Huntsville lodging Monday. They left their bags there and planned on picking them up after a day of skiing before they headed to the airport, said Weber County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryon Hadley.

The group never returned for their bags, however, and family members called police after the men failed to show up on their flight home.

The sheriff's office wasn't notified that the men were missing until 11 a.m. Tuesday. By noon, Weber County Sheriff's Search and Rescue unit along with a Department of Public Safety helicopter had located the men's rental car in the Powder Mountain parking lot and began a search.

Just two hours later, all five men were found in the Paradise Valley area of Cache County. It's close to an area where two 14-year-old girls became lost skiing and snowboarding last week. Those girls were also rescued safely.

The men, unfamiliar with the area, became disoriented, Hadley said. They were fairly well dressed for the conditions and had some light snacks, he said. They used pine boughs to sleep on and cover themselves. Group members said they would sleep an hour, then get up and move around before sleeping another hour, Hadley said.

He estimated the temperature in that area got down to between 0 and 10 degrees Tuesday night.
Their condition when they were found was not life-threatening.
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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com

[wolfmtnmikey]

Here's the video.



http://kutv.com/loca..._030155206.html

[wolfmtnmikey]

Here's the latest



Lost Teen Finds His Way Out of Ski Resort
February 5th, 2007 @ 9:44pm
(KSL News) -- A Texas teenager walked to safety tonight at Powder Mountain Ski Resort.
His parents hadn't seen their 15-year-old son since 2:00 this afternoon. He had skied into the Davenport Canyon area looking for fresh powder and got lost.
Lt. Jeff Malin, Weber County Sheriff's Dept.: "From there he started on foot hiking out of there so he walked a long ways in the dark to get back to where he was. Luckily he made it back."
Three snowmobile crews and an Air-Med helicopter had been searching for the young man.
Lost Teen Finds His Way Out of Ski Resort
February 5th, 2007 @ 9:44pm

[tahoeistruckin]

sounds like the need to have lift forman or lift maint. watching the bottom of the lift as the op rides up. As well as beter closing of trails at the end of day, ie have patrol be the last chair up, and alot better signege. Is it going to take one death, in order for them to change thier closing proucedures?

[Skiing#1]

http://deseretnews.c...0193438,00.html

Missing teenage skier from Texas is safe

OGDEN — A 15-year-old Texas boy missing for several hours near Powder Mountain turned up safe.
Weber County sheriff's deputies said the teen was vacationing with his family on Monday when he didn't return from a ski run. When the ski patrol couldn't find him, search and rescue teams were called. A helicopter flew in canyons surrounding the resort, looking for the boy in the night.

About nine o'clock, he showed up at their condo," Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Malan said Tuesday. Police said the teen had gotten into a canyon and hiked his way back to the resort. "He actually left his skis down there in the creek bottom and hiked back," Malan said. The teen was not injured, police said.

[RedArmy98]

I have no sympathy for skiers trying to push the limits and squeeze in an "extra" run at the end of the day. Especially at Powder Mountain. If you get stuck out there, might as well stick it out and wait until they open up the next day because that place is HUGE.

[Skiing#1]

Three skiers lost near Powder Mountain today (tuesday, January 8, 2008

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/s...00-043223babf4c

Lost Skiers Found Near Powder Mountain

Last Update: 8:06 am

Print Story | Email Story

Lost Skiers Found Near Powder Mountain

(KUTV) Three skiers from California are safe after spending a late night lost in the Utah mountains.

Search and rescue crews were called out to the Powder Mountain ski area just after 9 p.m. Monday night when the group hadn't contacted a friend.

Ski patrol searched areas of the mountain where skiers commonly get lost and found the group at midnight.

Police say the skiers got stuck in a canyon and became disoriented.

They had made a snow cave and were planning to stay the night on the mountain.

Rescue teams went in to help walk the skiers out.

No one was injured.

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 08 January 2008 - 01:19 PM

[Nick303]

wolfmtnmikey, on Feb 6 2007, 11:13 AM, said:

Here's the latest



Lost Teen Finds His Way Out of Ski Resort
February 5th, 2007 @ 9:44pm
(KSL News) -- A Texas teenager walked to safety tonight at Powder Mountain Ski Resort.

^^Key Word there

On a side note my friends grandfather owns Powderhorn and he invited me up there next week. Too bad I got chopper's at Copper.

[k2skier]

wolfmtnmikey, on Jan 31 2007, 01:17 PM, said:

The reason so many people get lost at Powder Mountain is that the resort is ass backwards you have to take all the chairs out at the end of the day except for Sundown which you just ski to the bottom. All the other chairs are below the main parking area and if you are late and miss sweep and head below Timberline then Paradise your on your way to Hyrum or Logan that are twenty miles away. This happens every year with sometimes as many as 6 or 7 lost parties going out of bounds and getting lost. I also forgot to mention they use a sign at the bottoms of these lifts that says "DO NOT GET ON LIFT OPERATOR IS ON WAY TO TOP LIFT MAY STOP AT ANY TIME" which is put in the middle of the ramp with some lift maze ribbon blocking the entrance but you get someone that goes around then up the lift then it shuts off and they are stuck there all night. It doesnt happen all the time but it does occasionaly.

The most retarded way to close down a chair, EVER!

[Callao]

k2skier, on Jan 9 2008, 12:24 PM, said:

The most retarded way to close down a chair, EVER!

Maybe not. Like RedArmy 98 said, their are limits. Where should Powder Mountain draw the line? We can criticize anybody for anything, but please, tell us your better idea!

I would argue that Powder Mountain has a fairly effective way at ending the day. They could show mercy to all their push-the-envelope skiers, and inadvertently train their guests they can keep skiing under the ropes for another ride, etc. Or, they could close the lifts down, and in a sense, punish the disobedient by leaving them out there, and then get free press that does two things: puts Powder's name out there, and humiliates the fool.

[k2skier]

Callao, on Jan 9 2008, 08:50 PM, said:

Maybe not. Like RedArmy 98 said, their are limits. Where should Powder Mountain draw the line? We can criticize anybody for anything, but please, tell us your better idea!

I would argue that Powder Mountain has a fairly effective way at ending the day. They could show mercy to all their push-the-envelope skiers, and inadvertently train their guests they can keep skiing under the ropes for another ride, etc. Or, they could close the lifts down, and in a sense, punish the disobedient by leaving them out there, and then get free press that does two things: puts Powder's name out there, and humiliates the fool.

The last person to leave Mt Hood Meadows lowest chair, Hood River Meadows, ALWAYS got a ride in a truck or a sled ride out after parking the chair. Leaving a chair running with out an operator is a law suit waiting to happen and is completely irresponsible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do they own a snowmobile? Then they should use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw this when I first went to Utah and skied Powder mtn (and Snowbasin) in the late 90's, blew me away that they would try such a risky closing. Retarded

[skisox34]

I have nothing more to say other than I agree. Their should be someone at both ends of a lift until it is secured and locked. I think most eastern states actually have a law that says such. I know that was the rule at Killington. I would often have to watch the return of a lift while work was going on at the drive. Summer and winter!

[Callao]

k2skier, on Jan 10 2008, 08:59 AM, said:

The last person to leave Mt Hood Meadows lowest chair, Hood River Meadows, ALWAYS got a ride in a truck or a sled ride out after parking the chair. Leaving a chair running with out an operator is a law suit waiting to happen and is completely irresponsible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do they own a snowmobile? Then they should use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw this when I first went to Utah and skied Powder mtn (and Snowbasin) in the late 90's, blew me away that they would try such a risky closing. Retarded

The sled idea is a good idea. But no, their current methods have not shown to be a liability, and it is not irresponsible. But maybe if you !!!!!!!!!yell!!!!!!!!!!!! louder in this forum, we will believe you just for the yelling's sake.

[k2skier]

Callao, on Jan 9 2008, 08:50 PM, said:

... but please, tell us your better idea!

use a cat or snowmobile to remove the lift op, and yes leaving an unattended lift running is very irresponsible, way too risky for a lawsuit happy USA

[vons]

We have 2 lifts that we have to load out at the end of the day both have signs and both have a photo eye safety gate that is activated when the bottom op loads the lift. The photo eye activates an alarm in the top shack if somone attemps to ride out. In the case that the alarm goes off while the bottom op rides out we call patrol to check the bottom and we run the lift an extra half lap. Get to the bottom after shut down you would use the emergency phone to get a ride.

[Skiing#1]

vons, on Jan 14 2008, 08:14 PM, said:

We have 2 lifts that we have to load out at the end of the day both have signs and both have a photo eye safety gate that is activated when the bottom op loads the lift. The photo eye activates an alarm in the top shack if somone attemps to ride out. In the case that the alarm goes off while the bottom op rides out we call patrol to check the bottom and we run the lift an extra half lap. Get to the bottom after shut down you would use the emergency phone to get a ride.

what ski resort is that you talked about 2 lifts? I like this idea than say "too bad to these who are stuck or lost"

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 14 January 2008 - 08:38 PM

[Skiing#1]

http://www.ksl.com/?...148&sid=5323535

2 skiers found after getting lost

January 15th, 2009 @ 9:00am

EDEN, Utah (AP) -- Two skiers spent a night in the cold after crossing a ski resort's boundaries and getting disoriented.

The two out-of-towners huddled next to a boulder overnight Monday while trying to stay warm after accidentally leaving the Powder Mountain resort near Ogden.

Three snowmobilers discovered the man and woman Tuesday afternoon in a wilderness area called La Plata east of the resort.

Roger Arave, a snow safety officer at Powder Mountain, says the skiers were following the tracks of another skier, which led them out of the resort. The two ultimately stopped for the night.

Arave says the skiers, who were examined by ski patrol after the ordeal, are going to try to find where they went out of bounds so the resort can make sure it has enough signs marking the boundary.

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