Been searching for a friend all day!! (Didn't make it).

[AaronBND]

Word was out since Sunday night that two snowmobilers had been missing since Sunday afternoon about 15 minutes from my house but they were not releasing names. Of course, like anyone I stayed up on the news to follow this event. Well........about 7 this morning I get a call saying it is my good friend Roger Rouse and his 29 year old son Brian that were missing up there. I was so sick to my stomach! I got on the phone and rounded up 5 other buddies to go up with me to help in the search and rescue they had set up. Roger and I have known each other for 8 years and are always talking snowmobiles. I knew......if anyone could survive it would be him! He is a veteran rider and knows this terrain like his kids. He's always ready for the worst. It got down to like 8 degrees last night up there and they got 12" of new snow. Well..........their sleds were found about 1pm today along with some foot tracks and then they were found at around 4pm tonight alive! They are still extracating them as we speak and should be at the hospital within a couple hours. It was some of the deepest snow I have ever ridden in today and the RX-1 could NOT have made me any happier! It took me everwhere I needed to go and more, without any trouble. I have always thought I would be ok without a good survival pack up there, but not anymore. I will have a good kit together the next time I ride. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be stranded and have nothing but a shovel. I always carry a cell but coverage is very limited. Anyways......that was my day! Here is the story!

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.d ... _category=

Aaron

P.S. The Maverick track is awesome! I'm not kidding I was totally unstoppable today in botomless powder! Everyone else I was with kept getting stuck and I'd just power on! The lighter sled really helped I'm sure.

 

[Grimm]

Well that is great news to hear that they are alive. Not often do you get to hear that.

All the best to them and a speedy recovery.

 

[BlgsRX-1mtn]

Aaron, glad to hear they are both alive. By reading the news report; it sounds like your friend is in pretty rough shape and is lucky they were found today. Our payers are with both for a full and speedy recovery.

Jim

 

[sledskiing]

That's a great end to a scary story. I heard about it this morning on snowest.

 

[Frostbite]

That's GREAT news Aaron!

I'm glad to hear your buddies are ok.

I'm also glad to hear your sled worked well.

I have a question for you. I sent you a PM.

Frosty

 

[brianidaho]

Relieved to get to the end of your story and find out that your friends were ok. I was afraid from reading the topic that the ending would not be so happy. Hope they are well.

Good lesson I guess. I always carry survival gear in my hunting pack, but not always while riding. Time to change that.

Bri

 

[pro116]

I'm glad there ok.I got sranded last year in a canyon for 34hrs.I know the feeling.

 

[AaronBND]

Just left the hospital. Brian the son is ok. Roger didn't make it!

Aaron

 

[98/02SRX]

Aaron, my prayers go out to the family. I'm sorry to hear this kind of news.

 

[snomadTT]

My thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends. Tragic.

 

[ViperTurboPete]

Aaron, I know what it's like to lose a friend on a snowmachine...so I know all too well what you are going through.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

 

[pro116]

Sorry to hear that.My thoughts and prayers are you with you and the family.

 

[DoktorC]

That's terrible...my deepest sympathy to you and the family.

 

[brianidaho]

What they said...very sad. My sympathies to you, their family and friends.

Bri

 

[Grimm]

With deepest regrets and all the best.