Charlie

It has been two days since one of the biggest scares of my life…..

Let me set the scene, it is a Monday afternoon, hasn’t snowed for a few days and I take young Charlie out of bounds.  We walk around the gate that doesn’t open unless you have an avalanche beacon.  I’d like to say we ignored the signs saying it is extreme terrain, but we took this photo.

The whole trip we prided ourselves on being hardcore…..

Before we begin the run, Charlie and I notice how the top layer of 20cms of snow is sliding to make mini-avalanches.  Pretty cool!!!

The run has two terraces, as Charlie starts he disappears from my view.  He reappears.  Then he disappears over the second terrace.

……

No more Charlie.

By the time I think he should have reappeared, I ski down.  Below the second terrace, where Charlie was last seen, there is an avalanche debris field about the size of a football field.

My stomach drops.

The most horrible thing on the planet has just happened.

But, I believe in being positive so I had a a few thoughts/arguments/testimonies…..

  1. He is only a snowboarder.
  2.  We had a good run together.

3. He had a really good week leading up to this tragic ending.

Exhibit A: Charlie Learned to Play Poker

On Friday night some of my coal mining buddies were hosting a poker game and Charlie and I had seats at the table.  I have to admit that I was knocked out before Charlie was.

Exhibit B: Charlie handled some Big Boy runs.

Exhibit C: Charlie got to ski Kimberley

Thankfully I didn’t need those exhibits.  After going through the football field of avalanche debris, I saw a snowboard track which was nicely rounded.  That is what Fernie Jibber Trent had been talking to Charlie about and it looked smooth.  I followed that snow track down and there was Charlie.

Never before have I been so happy to see a snowboarder!!!!