Some months ago (prior to the tragic rap show incident) I wrote an article about “post-Pandemic” special events, and how they’ve changed due to people having been cooped up for so long due to Covid. Now that people are getting out and about, many once-normal entertainment and recreational activities have seemingly taken on a new facade that is resulting in a rise in our call volumes. The best way that I can describe this façade and change is simply “extreme.”
The public seems to need an outlet, and they are taking their recreation to levels that reach the extreme. Here in the mountains of the northwest, these extremes are being seen in areas that include snowmobiling, skiing, and snowboarding, and, believe it or not, even fishing! And, how about how we see these folks driving on snow- and ice-covered roads thinking they’re bulletproof because they have four-wheel drive?
I know I got your attention with fishing, so let’s start there. Traditionally, fishermen flock to this area to fish late winter/early spring Steelhead in the Salmon River, once the ice dams break and the water flows. Savvy fishermen respect the shelf ice that built along the riverbanks throughout the winter, and will avoid trying to stand on it for fear of falling through it—or it breaking off from the shoreline and dumping them into the frigid river water.
Prior to 2019, I could count on one hand the number of water/ice rescues that resulted from fishing activities. The winters of 2020 and 2021 have been a horse of a different color, as a seemingly new breed of outdoor enthusiasts venture on to the shelf ice and eventually into the rivers. These kinds of rescues are extremely high-risk, and (should) require special training and equipment.
In the absence of said special training and equipment, the risk vs. benefit quotient gets even trickier. This scenario can be applied to ice fishing as well, where otherwise sane individuals would think twice about driving their new $75,000 pickup out onto questionably thin ice.
Extreme snowmobiling has also risen to new levels here. We’ve all likely ridden or driven something in a way that was or is “over our head,” but when things go wrong on a snow mobile, the likelihood of an associated avalanche comes into play. Does your department carry avalanche gear, transponders, or offer avalanche training? Not too many rural fire departments (including my own) do. After all, just how many different kinds of rescue gear can we carry on what are often considered “multivocational” (does everything; no separate truck, engine, or rescue companies) apparatus already?
For the sake of transparency, I own an extreme snowboarder (see video). Although my 25-year-old (youngest) son is beyond an expert snowboarder and skier, he will admit that he still crashes, and when he crashes it’s usually big crashes that happen outside the boundaries of the ski area (notice the highway at the bottom of the video frame).
I’ve asked him if he ever thought about what it would take to get him or one of his buddies off of a many-feet-deep, snow-covered, steep mountainside if one of them were to get hurt. His answer—in true young, healthy, extreme snowboarder language was: “Nope.”
Whether it’s a steep, snow-covered mountainside skier or snowmobile rescue, a fisherman in the icy river, or whatever “extreme” types of outdoor winter activities take place in your part of the country, are we prepared and outfitted to safely do these rescues?
Finally, I have to go back to the question of how we see these folks driving on snow- and ice-covered roads? From fishermen to snowmobile riders, most of them are now towing trailers that they don’t know how to pull on dry, flat pavement—let alone snow-covered mountain roads.
We are seeing a ton more wrecks this winter, and the trailers loaded with God know what seem to help the tow vehicle overturn a bit easier when they over-correct. The result is much longer time on scene as we also have to contend with ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, and the contents of travel trailers strewn across the highway—often requiring us to shut the highway down for an extended period of time. We all know how pleasant the motoring public can (understandably) be when they’re stuck on a closed two-lane highway for an extended period.
It’s certainly understood that we can’t all just run out and get all of the training and equipment that may be required to handle these types of rescues. However, if this writing helps to widen your field of view for what may be coming your way, then you’ve already taken the first step.
