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Subscribe to RSSHelmet-cam video shows a snowmobiler caught in an avalanche in Washington State and his friends quickly rushing to his rescue. KING-TV's Jim Forman reports.
WASHINGTON -- A snowmobiler caught in an avalanche on Stampede Pass, Washington, on Sunday was quickly rescued by friends who watched it happen.
The entire incident was recorded by a helmet cam, attached to the helmet of the man's friend, Rick Jablinske.
Jablinske posted the video on YouTube that night.
Shown in the video, John, the man caught in the avalanche, stops at the bottom of a hill to watch another snomobiler higher up. The snowmobiler makes a few passes, letting loose an avalanche.
The torrent of snow thunders down the hillside, completely burying John.
Fellow snowmobilers get to him in seconds and frantically dig him out.
Breathing and dazed, John was okay and able to go home to recover.
All the snowmobilers were wearing protective clothing and helmets.
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Watched this video yesterday, and was so glad to see he made it out ok. I think this video will be a stark reminder of what shouldn't happen when out riding. NEVER cut up a hill while someone else is on it. Snow conditions suck this year. Live to ride, ride to live.
Agreed.
An avalanche can hit like fast-moving water...until it stops, when it becomes cement. People have suffocated within inches of the surface, unable to move their legs, arms or head.
Very lucky man indeed...and from the scars on his face, it might be concluded this was not the first time he cheated death.
A good story with a thankfully uplifting end.
Tip for the day........never go ice fishing in one of those tiny huts , with a friend that had 3 bean stew the day before......
Looked like Mr. Swanson had already been in some sort of other accident by the scars on his face. He's very lucky to be alive for sure.
Richard, if you watched the story today on Good Morning America it explained how he was burnt! He was working on his car 15 yrs ago and a gas explosion caused the injury!
nice ride...
Good Job guys!!! I'm happy he's ok.
richard, hope that tree your hugging falls and takes you out!!!!
One lucky guy! To the idiot (Dick) who posted the negative comment; if you dish it out be ready to receive your just reward!
I've gone snowmobiling a couple of times with my best friend and as much fun as it is, it is dangerous. I tore my meniscus two years ago jumping off the snowmobile avoiding a TREE, oops (I had surgery to repair it last month). It is fun but also dangerous even without the risk of the side of a mountain and the potential of an avalanche.
It's wonderful to see the riders as a group so that there is always help available to save your life. One never knows when and what will happen. God bless.
Very small avalanche..
I love happy endings! Looks like these guys knew too that it was more than just unburying the head, but removing the snow in front of the guy's chest too.
Seriously? How is this news? How does this warrant being on the front page of a major news site? It wasn't an avalanche. It was a small hill side of snow. The idiot's companions triggered it. Popcorn and circuses people.
Dude, shut up with that. Seriously, the "how is this news?!" comments have got to be the most tired, whiny crap infecting these comment sections. Discounting of course, people who have to make everything a left vs. right pissing match.
You Richard are indeed an idiot and a disgrace to the human race ... and ZapTheSheep isn't far behind
Idiots are those who do stupid things and start avalanches.
Wow Richard. I bet you drive a Toyota Prius, thinking, in your blissful ignorance, that you are being "green", and "saving the planet Earth". In reality, the factory that produced your nice clean Prius actually puts out far more pollution than a used combustion-engine-powered car would. Not to mention the pollution emitted by the transport vehicles used to bring all the parts of the car to the factory, and then move the finished product to a dealership. If you're so @!$%#ing Holy, why don't you quit driving entirely and ride a god damned horse to work, or walk, or ride a bicycle. Any of these options would create far less pollution than some stupid hybrid car, even less than a purely electric car. But you don't think about it like that, do you? You just see it in a way that is convenient for you. You'd rather just go easy on yourself and pass the blame on to others. In reality, idiots like YOU are the ones who are ruining the Earth, with your stupidity and backward evolution.
Actually I ride a bike to work and the idiot appears to be you for making assumptions on something you know nothing about.
Sally - You clearly have no idea that there are people out here who actually do commute by walking, running, and/or biking... and do it happily. I can see why you, and many other on this forum, show anger towards Richard's comments. You just don't want to be snapped out of your ignorant little bubbles.
Sure you do Richard...:(
Oh look, Richard, the coward, has tucked his tail between his legs and deleted his comment. Typical.
I stand by my statement, the coward is the censor who removed my post.
Here you go Richard - do you feel better now?
#.Tx7jPXrMZoM
ignore that post - the url didn't fully post - I'll try again
#.Tx7jPXrMZoM
I never felt bad, except for idiots like you.
This was an AMAZING video! It shows those of us who did not know that an avalanche could be triggered in such a simple way, and that something seemingly so small (as that little avalanche) can be so deadly. Incredible. I'm thankful this guy was rescued so quickly. And, that there was a helmet cam to capture it, cuz I just learned something new today. And, although I'm a Pharma. Chemist...I certainly do not know it ALL. Thanks again for sharing the video!
Snowmobiles should not be a form of recreation. They are loud and polluting. Big fellas might think about getting some exercise.
LMAO!!! ^ ^ what a dope you are SM.
Then cars shouldn't be a form of recreation either. Have you ever taken a vacation or driven to any form of recreation in a vehicle? Almost all recreation has an enviromental impact. If sleds are bad then all forms of recreation are bad. Also, have you ever eaten any food delivered to a grocery store by a loud and polluting truck? Your answer may reveal that you have a double standard.
Greatscot...What are you saying that since I eat food from a grocery that its hypocritical to criticize gas powered recreation? Seriously? That is a terrible argument. Its true that we all have an impact on the environment. However, the point is to minimize that impact. Steven Most is making the point that snowmobiling for recreation is idiotic when you take into account the other (superior) options for recreation in the winter outdoors (e.g. snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ski touring, etc. etc.).
It's idiotic to you - personally, I would take snowmobiling over any of the activities you listed - not enough speed. Now if you would have started with downhill skiing or snowboarding, then I might have been with you.
What the @!$%# do you think you're doing when you are ski touring!? There you go... another person with an opinion... but without a clue.
Richard,
I remember a few years back when I was asked by the nearby State Police outpost to ride my sled to a snowbound address that they couldn't get to. An infant at that address had a heart monitor with a failing battery. I guess by your standard the infant should have been left to die instead of using a snowmobile. What if that was a member of your family? Are snowmobiles OK then?
Obviously life-saving and mindless "recreation" are two different things, not sure why you felt the need to ask.
Simply to point out the double standard that exists when someone such as yourself makes an implication that recreation should cease if it causes noise or air pollution, yet you go on engaging in all sorts of polluting by merely living in modern society.
I wouldn't expect you to be able to understand the difference between needless pollution and that which is inevitable and necessary for living on the planet.
Recreational snowmobiling is a cheap thrill at the expense of noise and air pollution. There is an infinitely better experience to be had on backcountry skis. The human body is capable of incredible feats of endurance. It is tragic that people are so lazy they have to use gas powered recreation to get their jollies, instead of using their inherent physical capabilities? As for those of you who care to play the double standard card on me. I bike/run everywhere, I reject consumerism, I use as little electricity as I can, I recycle, and I live an incredibly happy life.
Richard, you don't even know me, how could you have any expectations of me. Who gets to define "needless pollution", only you? A snowmobile is the same as a car, truck, train, plane, or ship. They all burn fuel when used recreationally. You want to single out snowmobiles while trucking companies, cruise ships and airlines blow through massive quantities of fuel for peoples leisure.
Epic, funny thing is I also backcountry ski in the rockies. I have to fly from the midwest and then get into the mountains by truck. These burn fuel. Do you walk and bike to get to the backcountry?
Greatscot....................Don't feed the trolls. They will never get full.
Racer --I am not a troll. I spend a great deal of time in the backcountry, have my avalanche safety training, have to deal with the exhaust and noise pollution generated by snowmobiles and the danger they pose in triggering avalanches. I have a valid opinion.
Greatscot --I've already conceded your point (i.e. people consume and pollute). Got it. However, you are not addressing mine. There are ways to lessen your impact. It is irresponsible to use a gas powered machines in the outdoors for recreation when there are options that provide a far better experience without the environmental impact. It should also be noted that sowmobilers account for the largest number of avalanche related-fatalities on the West coast.
And, your question, "Do you walk and bike to get to the backcountry" is redundant. I live in the Coast Mountains.
Epic, You have only conceded a small fraction of my point. You seem not to be able to accept that you you are as guilty of polluting as any snowmobiler. Until your pollution footprint is zero (not just less than someone else) you really can't point fingers.
Epic, You also state that "there are options that provide a far better experience" than snowmobiling. You seem to be assuming that everyone has the same interests and enjoys various forms of recreation in exactly the same order and level as you. What you love is not what eveybody else loves. That is a very convenient but small minded view of society.
Greatscot --Having a smaller carbon footprint than the next guy 'is' important. This is a strong motivator for conservation. When the global population is rocketing past 7 billion, conservation is the only thing that is going to guarantee some kind of future for our children and their children. You seem intelligent enough. I am sitting here scratching my head wondering how you don't get this. If you make choices that are uninspiring, lazy, obnoxious, and that pollutes and endangers others; then don't play the poor victim card when you draw the ire of people who are socially and environmentally responsible.
what a contrived piece of video -probably planned it all in 5 min. Does not warrant coverage.
Welcome to the internet...........You do realize that not every story is intended to satisfy all those we read/watch it, right?
I've had more snow slide off my roof.