Close calls out of bounds
Have you ever ducked a boundary rope and never thought twice about the consequences? Unfortunately, I now understand first hand why ski patrol work so hard to tell people the danger of this subject.
My story starts with ducking only one boundary rope and ends with one lucky girl 24 hours later looking at life differently.
During my day off, I decided to go out of bounds for my first time. I was with three other friends-no plan, experience, food, water, or shovel and we went under the rope where about eight different signs display the dangers of going out of bounds.
I was second among the group and loved the treed powder so much I ventured my own way and eventually realized I was following unfamiliar snowmobile tracks. I followed the tracks past a logging area and tons of untouched powder, enjoying an insane line until it came to me that where I was going was not leading me back to the resort.
I looked for my cellphone so I could inform someone, but it was gone. I panicked, took off my board and tried to backtrack. But, since I was in a logging area every time I took a step my boots were caught between fallen logs and the snow was up to my stomach. I gave up on my cellphone, went back to my snowboard and started walking towards a snowmobile trail that I could see. I was getting a little scared by then and knew that I had to have a plan.
During my first hours of the walk down the snowmobile trail I began to notice these big paw prints with claw marks following me in a circular motion and I could tell they were fresh. The only thing that came to mind was a cougar.
It started to get dark and I knew I had to start making a shelter. I dug out a hole with my board, lined it with pine tree branches and tried to lie down. It was also the only day I wore just a hoody so I was soaking wet laying in a hole full of trees-because of one stupid decision, ducking that damn rope.
In the morning I started walking once again, and kept seeing the cougar tracks. After leaving signs and messages in the snow I finally came upon some snowmobilers. They were more than happy to drive me back to the village and they pretty much saved my life.
I made it home exhausted with muscle cramps, a slightly lowered body temperature, and really wet feet. Ski patrol took really good care of me and I want to thank them for doing such an awesome job.
If you do want to take the risk in the backcountry you should always have a planned destination, inform someone and you should have a backpack full of necessary tools and food in case the worst does happen. Never leave and just assume your friends made it out. A means of communication is also key.
The mountain really did kick this Prairie girl's ass, but she'll be back!
Jayne Vierling,
Sun Peaks
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