Knowing your limitations

[nydiver]

This happened Saturday up on Tug Hill. Gentleman was riding a friends 09 Nytro which was foreign to him. Riding in a pack, he was the tail of the group. His fellow riders still do not know exactly what happened (he is still in a coma) except that he did not turn sharp enough, went wide and clipped the tree. Conditions were clear, sun was not in his eyes. Some reason maybe as the tail he went into a cloud of powder in the corner and just didn't see the sharpness of the turn or that he was leaving the trail. His absence was not noticed immediately, about a 1/2 mile down the trail or more before they turned around to look for him. He was unconscious and some thought he was dead when they found him.

This man clings to life in coma right now, doctors had to amputate his lower right leg, he has multiple fractures of right arm and internal chest injuries.

When we ride with others, perhaps new or loaned sleds, put them in the middle of the pack, and ride at the slowest riders pace. Lots of arguments over people going like hell on the trails, pushing wide in corners, passing slower riders or groups by going outside trail markers. Seems everyone has stories of close calls on the trails up there this year. NY right now has more closed trails as of today than ever in recorded NYSSA history for this time of year. Everyone from Rochester to Albany, Cortland to Watertown is forced to ride the Tug or OF and its a freakin cluster fudge, we have over 950 miles of trail that are closed and under 150 open. Sometimes we need to think of and put others fun and safety in front of our own needs or desires.

Be safe out there and keep it between the markers.

 

[Tyloooor]

wow scary stuff and well said. I hope everything is ok for him and his family... thinking about you guys all the best

 

[NOS-PRO]

Hope he gets better and sucks to hear he lost a leg.... Prayers to him, his friends and family.

This past weekend was an eye opener for me again also....witnessing a chase in progress where a man jumped from the tall bridge in Green Bay on our way up north to the Giveaway ride. Friday started out like any other day, but just before heading out on the trail, my son grabbed his handlebars and broke the steering stem right off. This could have really been bad out on the trail. Friday night, a man was hit by a truck crossing the highway and was killed immediately. This was about a mile from where we were eating dinner. Heard that 2 days before we arrived to Munising, someone hit a tree and was killed.

On the trail, as my son and I were coming back into town Saturday....2 people on Polaris passed us in the most bumpy, narrow and curvy section of trail. WTF? Really? Not even 1/2 mile to town and they had to pass us. We weren't going under 25.....

This season is so short the way it is.... Be careful everyone

 

[mcamzr]

Safety is no joke, I was at a funural last Friday for a friend of mine. He was run off the trail in a corner by someone going way to fast and drinking way to much. Please everyone be careful.

 

[Deeppow16]

I also put a post on here about a guy blowing the corner and smoked a tree pretty bad. I was the person to come across him and it was a pretty sight. The guy had to be airlifted. He was awake and knew where he was which was good but it just shows you that you need to take it easy sometimes.