This happened just on the other side of the range behind my place, he "camped out" probably about 10 or 12 miles from me. So I can relate. Sure, it's not an airplane, but it may have some interest to ski plane fliers. Anybody else wonder why he didn't have a cell phone? They have coverage in the area. Or for that matter, more gas in the tank? I'd let him slide on the gas thing more then I would the not having a phone with him thing. Even playing around only 4 miles from my place, in the winter, I have overnight camping gear, for sure the cell phone, and a PLB. I find it interesting, in this day and age, that he wasn't quizzed (razzed) about the lack of a cell phone. Lousy reporting maybe, or something else going on? If he forgot it, or maybe doesn't own one, just say so! I'd expect they'd (local S & R) to use the event as a teaching moment ( I hate that phrase) and mention that maybe it'd be a good idea to be better equipped in order to avoid needing to be rescued.

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2017/02/st ... e/?t=32018

Maybe he was auditioning for the Alaska survivor show! When skiing locally at crystal mountain I see this happen more than you can believe.
Ron

I think it falls under the heading, "You don't know what you don't know." I'll bet if you stopped 100 snowmobilers, you'd find very few of them with a basic first aid kit, a basic survival kit, or even snowshoes, let alone any way of contacting civilization. Yet those sleds are capable of quickly transporting their riders miles into the backcountry, where they can get stuck, run out of fuel, break down--all sorts of reasons where some sort of survival equipment will be necessary, communication will be vital, and in which slogging out on their own would be nearly impossible.

So when you stop those snowmobilers and find that they have nothing beyond the clothes they're wearing and ask them, "What happens if....?", I'll bet 100% of those who are unprepared would respond with something like, "Gosh, I never thought of that."

Cary

Cary wrote:I think it falls under the heading, "You don't know what you don't know." I'll bet if you stopped 100 snowmobilers, you'd find very few of them with a basic first aid kit, a basic survival kit, or even snowshoes, let alone any way of contacting civilization. Yet those sleds are capable of quickly transporting their riders miles into the backcountry, where they can get stuck, run out of fuel, break down--all sorts of reasons where some sort of survival equipment will be necessary, communication will be vital, and in which slogging out on their own would be nearly impossible.

So when you stop those snowmobilers and find that they have nothing beyond the clothes they're wearing and ask them, "What happens if....?", I'll bet 100% of those who are unprepared would respond with something like, "Gosh, I never thought of that."

Cary

Several years ago, at least 30 or so years ???, a couple experienced something like James Gilbert's unplanned night in the woods, only their overnight stay was a lot of overnights. In the end theirs turned out very badly. A guy and his wife went snow machining north of Winthrop, WA. He was a really big guy, she was fairly small. They got bogged down when they somehow got off the groomed trail. From what I recall, there was heavy snow fall that night and for several days after. The couple stayed with their machines, they didn't have snow shoes and probably weren't in shape to use them anyhow. I don't recall whether they had any supplies or emergency gear. I doubt they did. Several weeks later a group of snow machiners rode by, stopped to pee or for a snack, and somehow found them. He was still alive, though his extremities were badly frostbit. I guess people can live a long time on body fat. She didn't survive. I read later that his experience, and particularly his wife's death, left him with some serious psychological wounds.

20+ years ago my next-door-neighbor's brother did something like this near Salt Lake City. Weather in town was blue sky and mid 60's (April), he went snowmobiling solo wearing a t-shirt, blue jeans, and jogging shoes, when he didn't return by dark his wife called search and rescue. They found the truck easy, searched all night, and found him deceased the next morning. The story as I remember it was he went off the groomed trail and got stuck, S&R went past him less than 10 yards away several times during the night, and they found him curled up on the seat frozen in the morning when they had light. Overnight temp was about +10 deg. that night.

I'll throw this out there since I've not seen anyone comment on the snow cave. If ever you are stuck out in the cold with no shelter, stop before you are exhausted and dig a snow cave. Small entrance, upward sloping tunnel, platform base higher than the top of the entrance. Done correctly a snow cave is much warmer than a tent with inside temps above freezing, particularly if you have a candle, which you should have in your pocket, right?

No candles in my winter gear stash. Shovel, sleeping bags, spare socks, big piece of Tyvek ( ground cloth, or whatever) , sleeping pad, roll of big heavy duty garbage bags, PLB, cell phone, trail mix, water, road flares, rope comalong, snowshoes, etc etc. I will rectify the candle shortage, makes perfect sense, thanks! Knew about the cave, didn't think of a heat source for it.