GOOD TIMES!! Keeps ona Snowing

The face is on the heal and I will be coming out of "retirement" for one last year at the plant. Time just keeps on, I missed 2 trips out to the mountains that I had planned. It was annoying but, this is the way it is. I'll get back out there. From what I have been reading, winter is going to last till June in some areas. You are hearing it from here, Global Cooling, I've got the gear for it. Maybe I should keep the Arctic Cat Mt. Sled. It might be worth alot more next winter.

Having this time off gave me a chance to see the grandkids in action.

Gota have a good backpack this snowy winter.

I saw this in a snowmobile add clip, they made the snowmobile disappear beneath the rider. J. is actually riding a bike next to Jr., I just made it disappear.

Have not even ridden it yet, pick it up soon. Going back to old school mountain biking for my flat-land swamp bike. The full-suspension bike will get some time off till the mountains.

Rigid fork, 9 speeds / 1 sprocket in front and 9 in rear, steel frame and 29" tires. Looks like a great mud bike. Back in the day that was the best part. On a rainy day, grab the bike and head for the woods. Get back, hang the bike from the front wheel and let the mud drip off and dry. It might be 40 degrees, but I would use the garden hose and spray down the dog and all my clothes with me in them. Everybody has done that a few times, I'm sure. Then before the next ride take a quick brush to the chain, brakes and derailleur, knock off the big chunks of dried mud. Squirt the moving parts with WD-4o and go do it again.

I'll never forget the time down by the Minnesota river, by Chaska, it was in 1984. The river had flooded and the backwater was running through the woods by the old railroad bridge. I started across with my dog, well by the time I was half way across, the dog and I were both swimming and I had ahold of the bike behind me. Well we made it across, but I remember taking a different way back. It was about 35 degrees that day, GOOD TIMES!! That wasn't the last time I had to cross backwater in that river bottoms.

Picture of the green Arctic Cat.

Transformed into the black Arctic Cat. This sled is for sale. It is a mountain sled with 144" track and 2" paddles. A 2004 / 600 cc, 114 HP machine. 1550 miles EFI. It is the extra snowmobile, we still have the 2 Polaris RMKs.

Spring Fling 08

Spring Fling 08

What the Heck Ya got in That Pack, Man?

The pack with snowboard attached, after hike to the top of the mountain. In Montana, over New Years 08.

Triple collapse poles from Black Diamond. So easy to pack.

BCA Companion avy shovel, it is a short handle. The avalanche probe fits right in the handle. I like having the probe and shovel together. Very handy, don't have to hunt for either.

Shown apart, probe slides into handle of shovel.

Odds and ends, compass, also reads slope angle. Knife screw driver tool, whistle, orange flashlight, razor blade, carabiners, small pulley, electric tape, pepper spray(critters out in those mountains).

It was up north of Bozeman, MT, Jan 07. I was up in the backcountry and there were Mountain Lion tracks in my tracks from the day before. I kept my eyes open as I snowshoed up higher that day.

Tracker avalanche transceiver, must have and know how to use. The top transceiver is set on transmit. The bottom transceiver is on search. The signal waves travel in a curve, that is something a person has to learn and practice. That is why one needs to take an avalanche course. I have taken a course every 2 years, Level 1, Level 2 and took a refresher level 1 again this last fall. It is like refreshing on my Ski Patrol skills. It keeps you sharp.

Sleeping bag liner, I used one during the wait for Search & Rescue in my accident. I draped it over my head and back to conserve body heat.

Fire starter kit I put together, Small fire starter sticks, matches and lighter.

Munchies, Mix of carbs and protein. Beef jerky, peanuts, energy bars, Power Bars. Energy gels Power Bar Gel and Accel Gel for quick energy.

This is a 2.8 pound 1 person tent for an emergency shelter. I carry this on the sled in a water proof bag. After being caught out in a blizzard 3 years ago it always travels with me.

Rope, high quality climbing rope, about 120 feet of length. Rope is always good. I also carry 130 feet on my sled.

Lightweight climbing harness, ya never know. There's cliffs out there, man.

Headlamp, extra batteries. Extra silk head, face mask. It does get dark and cold out in them there mountains, Vern.

First Aid Kit. I'm sure I carry more than most people. I see what can happen out there, anywhere.

Walkie talkie, that even sounds cool. They are handy when we might get separated, I keep them on a neck cord to throw on quickly. You could put them on scan to pick up a signal.

Clear goggles for dark or an extra set in wet conditions, bandanna use it for any thing, tie a splint, cover face, sling with tape over shoulder. Soft gloves to use when not sledding or boarding. Map of Wyoming, cause that's where the snow is.

All packed away in nice little stash sacks, Each picture of items is in a separate sack. There is room to throw in an extra vest in case.

This is the Dakine Poacher pack. It is very well designed. It rides on my back very good. I can wear it all day. The compartments are well thought out. The best large pack I have owned, and I've had a few. It is too large for, in resort. A backcountry pack it is. I use a smaller Dakine Heli pack in the resorts.

Lighten Up

So relaxing, little fishy.
Thanks to my Wife for the: Painting of the Sea.

Everybody having a great time!

Did I say, Snowy Mt Range in Wyoming.

Now close my eyes and click my snowboard boots together.

It worked, I've transported my mind to Wyoming... I knew I could!!

Minnesota Snowmobile Adventure 08: The Survival Adventure

-22 degrees the first night

Good times change in an instant. The following PICTURES are GRAPHIC, so be WARNED!!!

ME

Day 1 of incident; Face against handlebar. 1.5 hours till search and rescue. 3 hours till hospital.

Day 2; 14 broken bones in face. Blew out eye socket, shattered nose, split the roof of mouth down the middle, broken jaw, cheekbone. Also broke my left wrist.

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Find out if the nose has to be straightened, Back to Adventuring end of April.

This adventure put me into the roll of patient, while Ski Patrol, I am on the other side of the rubber gloves, splints and 4x4 bandages. I remember when I heard that Search & Rescue was going to be at least 45 minutes, I wondered what we could do for that length of time. I know that a Dr. and nurse couple stopped to help. We were able to use a bunch of stuff in my first aid kit. Rubber gloves, a cravat to put over some of the bleeding, 4x4 bandages and a light weight sleeping bag liner over my head to keep me warm. It was about 20 degrees outside, I never went into shock and when search & rescue arrived, they put me on oxygen right away. It was a 5 or 6 mile ride in a rescue sled behind a snowmobile to an ambulance. I noticed the lack of real pain, some of it could have been the cold that helped stop the bleeding and the bodies survival mechanisms to withstand pain. Then a 35 mile ride to the hospital in the ambulance. Spent some time?... catscan, x-rays at hospital. Then waited for a chopper. They airlifted me to a larger hospital, 90 mile away. They were concerned with trauma in my face. 14 broken bones in my face.

My wife and sister arrived at the hospital at midnight. They seemed somewhat taken aback by my face, at this point I still could not see out of my right eye, it was puffed up and sealed closed with blood. They thought I might look worse... I got to sleep about 2:30AM. I was pretty plugged up during the night so they put me on oxygen for a few hours. I checked out of the hospital at noon, 24 hours after the incident. I had to show I could walk around the hospital floor and eat a yogurt. Wow! We hit the road and stopped at the first McDonalds and I got a vanilla shake.

6 days later and I'm optimistic about getting healed up good as new, I meet with my Dr. again in the morning , to see about this big ole nose.

THANKS to my Wife and Sister, it was great to see their faces at midnight when they arrived. I want to thank Cook County Search & Rescue, the people on the trail that stopped to help, the Dr. and nurse (I believe they were together). Everyone that is involved with Grand Marais ambulance & hospital. The Best Western of Grand Marais. The helicopter crew from Duluth that loaded and gave me a hell of a ride just above the waters of Lake Superior to the hospital in Duluth. For everyone who helped clean up my face in the Duluth hospital. And THANKS to my 3 Buddies that rode with me through the first night of -22 degree riding and helped get me out of the woods, it was great to see you dudes through my one good eye when you pulled up to me in the woods.

At least we had our beer and pizza at "Sven & Oles" Fri night!

Urban Snowcave / Boarding

Enjoying snowcave in the yard.

First ski & board for youngsters.