The avalanche victim yesterday was the exception not the rule. They all had proper gear (This is per scanners and news reports) which for outback skiing is an avalanche beacon on for one. It saved this dudes life yesterday. You come ripen off a ridge which is where this guy was and into a bowl (which is more like a chute) and the ridge breaks off behind you. So you start going ass over tea kettle (That swim it stuff is crap, its more like jumping out of a plane tighten your legs rolls, I don’t know, I have not been skiing for years and when I did I never went back country) so anyway you are rolling and that sets off this beacon which has a long antenna. It sends out a signal that is audible and radio receivable. You best hope your buddies come out better than you did because the guys not covered start looking for the guys covered. Yesterday the worst injured was covered for 10 minutes and not breathing when they dug him out. His buddies got him breathing again and called for help which this time of the year is hard because officially they were trespassing on back country of a closed resort. The Sheriff Search and rescue got the call. Most Utah search and Rescue teams are Volunteer here in Utah. They are headed by like the sheriff or if it is Zion national park then Park and wild life.

Last year’s search and rescue had their second busiest year ever.

Last year a friend and his brother were climbing close to where I live. His brother fell and died. It took four days to get the body. We were told it was their hardest retrieval ever but I don’t know it had been a long season. In stead of flowers the family wanted people to donate to search and rescue because people use their own equipment and time. I will say they put their lives on the line and it is always rescue first and ask questions later.