An adventure I don't care to repeat...

[mtbdarby]

So this weekend my sister and 12yo nephew stopped by after his basketball tourney. It was a balmy 38 degrees and he wanted to try snowshoeing - he just didn't have any boots

My sister was game to let him snowshoe in tennis shoes, so I gave him my gators to at least keep his legs warm. I decked out my sister in my boots, shoes, jacket, snow pants, gloves, etc., my 6yo has his own snowshoes so he was ready, and I wanted to try out my new xc skiis.

So we went to Nine Mile forest and she rented shoes for her son. Now, she's one year post hip replacment (42yo) and hadn't shoed since we were kids. The plan was for her to go with the boys and my 12yo dog out 15 minutes on the trail and then come back while I did the same thing with the skiis. Then she wanted to try the skiis and I would go with the boys. She left without a map of the area (her first time there), but at least I gave her my fanny pack with food for all, water and my cell phone. Little did I know.....

My sister somehow forgot quickly into their walk that she was going to turn around and come back She took them on a 6k loop and tried to complete the whole thing! So there I sat for an hour and a half waiting for them before I remember she had my cell phone. I tried to find them on the trail but didn't want to get too far out because it was nearing dark. So I tried to call and didn't get good reception, but I hear "send help" and "I don't know where I am". They sounded in good spirits though...

So I informed the chalet staff of the situation and asked his opinion. We tried to contact her for over half an hour to peg her location. We knew they were past the halfway point and we safe and on a trail, we just didn't know if she has switched to a ski trail. We pulled the trigger to call in the ski patrol and a snowmobile was sent to get them. I am freakin' a bit by now because my life was with her. And both the chalet staff and I were a bit ticked off but I was more concerned they get back safely before dark.

Long story long, they were "rescued". My nephew was about frozen with wet feet but my 6yo thought it was the adventure of a lifetime! My poor dog was shaking like a leaf - most likely because he didn't like the ride on the sled behind the snowmobile.

My sister apologized profusely, I kicked myself for letting her go out without me and her husband thought it was all my fault and wanted to chew me out (yeah, where was he? He didn't go to his son's basketball tourney, and he didn't come out there even though he'd talked to his wife on her cell phone and knew his wife and only child were lost, because he was fishing! Loser). I think a lot of lessons were learned that day and we won't be putting ourselves in that situation again. My total time on skiis - 30 minutes. Their total time on shoes - 3 hours!

The chalet staff very tactfully asked her, in front of the kids, "so, if you were to do that again what would you do differently?" It ticked my sister off because she learned her lesson, but out of the mouths of babes, my son says:

"I think the next time we do that we should bring a map". Nuff said!

I think it took 10 years off my life. It was AGONY waiting for them in the chalet and not being able to help. I thought my son would have been tired and whiney and wanting her to carry him (she said he was AWESOME! Never complained once and lead them the whole way). And I was concerned that her hip was killing her because there were two good hills on that loop. I don't know the woods well enough to go find them myself and didn't want to add to the rescue efforts. Even though I've mountain biked out there, I don't feel the trails are marked well either. So maybe we all learned a bit something...

[lph]

Wow, that must have been horrible for you

But for your sister and the kids it was a gift - an excellent lesson learned with no harm done except some wet feet and humiliation

[Biciclista]

Last I heard, 42 years old was considered an adult. i agree you should not have split up, but the person who was not using her head was your sister.
don't beat yourself up for it. Look what a good job your son did, and you taught him.

[Aggie_Ama]

Dar you poor thing! It isn't your fault, shame on her husband. Glad everyone made it out safe and sound and maybe a little wiser.

[bmccasland]

Dar - can't add any more words of wisdom. Glad everyone made it out OK, got their toes warmed, and maybe learned a lesson or two. Out for 15 minutes and back means exactly that, not just a bit further, what's over the next hill? Sis is an adult, she's the responsible party in this.