Tragedy was averted last night when two snowmobilers from New Hampshire walked out of the wilderness.  The two, a father and son, were snowmobiling with four other friends on the Black Canyon Loop trail when one by one their sleds quit and they were left stranded.  The father and son’s sleds went the farthest and from there they started walking.

Fortunately it only took them two or three hours to get to Macks Inn and call for help.  When they returned, their friends were okay and what could have been a deadly situation was averted.  It appears as though the group thought the trail was shorter than it was, and everyone ran out of gas.  Temperatures have been warmer in Island Park of late, but even so, last night’s temps were in the teens.  So it’s fortunate they made it out.

There was some question whether other snowmobilers had seen the pair walking and ignored them.  I think this is extremely unlikely.  If you’re riding and you see someone who is walking (especially someone waving their arms and shouting) you stop and see what’s going on.  Since it was well past dark, the more likely scenario is that nobody saw them walking along in dark clothing in the dark.

At any rate, this once again underscores the need to be prepared, to be situationally aware, and to be cautious, especially when riding in unfamiliar territory.  This is big country with large distances between civilization.  Your dad always told you to to ride on the top half of the tank (any time we were going to dip into the bottom half, we took along extra gas.)  Now you know why.

Have fun, but be cautious.  Be prepared.  Be situationally aware. The life you save may be your own (and that of your friends.)