 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
The party were accompanied for part of their journey by two Norwegian skiers who turned back when the weather deteriorated.
Aslak Braatveit, one of the Norwegians, said: "We could never imagine they were going to continue after the weather changed. It was getting much worse. |
Two points of interest.
1. You would have thought sensible Scotsmen would have thought the Norwegians knew their weather, and if they turned back the Scots would have done so too.
2. You would have thought sensible Norwegians who knew their weather would have reported that three foreigners were out on the mountain in terrible conditions and might need some help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
The news reported here in the Scotsman newspaper says the Norwegians only passed the group on Friday and were not part of the group. A quote from the article
"Kristian Årsland, 27, and Aslak Bråtveit, 55, who passed the men shortly after they set off on Friday, told the Red Cross they were certain that the Scots would give up and return to the start point Finsehytta on Hardangervidda. They added one of the men did not have the proper skis for mountain travel and they appeared to lack sufficient extra clothing. Mr Årsland and Mr Bråtveit said they regretted that they didn't make the men return to the safety of the climbing hut starting point. "
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I have stayed in a hotel near the beginning of the Hardangervidda plateau - It's not the place you want to be in bad weather, especially if you do not have the correct equipment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| The BBC wrote: |
| "They were heading for a hut, a cottage, and they got lost. It was very foggy weather, it was snowy and windy," he said. |
Case for having a small GPS with you for such treks? Or would there have been a problem with getting a good GPS fix so far north (are GPS satellites geo-stationary around the equator?).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Since the above post, I have been told that GPS coverage is global.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
achilles, yup, bearing in mind the original American use for GPS, not being able to drop bombs on northerners would be a big disadvantage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
achilles, GPS satellites are not geostationary, i.e. not fixed over the equator. GPS does work in polar regions (at least I can't think of any good reason why it shouldn't).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
achilles, ....Yes GPS coverage is global and GPS is a magnificient tool, but it should be accompanied with a basic grounding of compass & map navigation proficiency and some basic knowledge of survival techniques & procedures in sub-zero temperatures. The right equipment, the topic of another thread at the moment, is also crucial, as is knowledge - mountaincraft, whatever you call it - without it a local, properly qualified guide is a must.
Part of me hopes we don't know any of these unfortunate skiers, that they are not Eagles, snowHeads, or Ski Club, but they are somebody's husbands, brothers, fathers and our sympathies go out to their loved ones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
achilles, I can confirm that my GPS could pinpoint my position when I was north of the Arctic circle in Finland. Hardangervidda is south of that so there should be no problem in that regard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
The report in the Times today suggested that the police were investigating foul play.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Further details coming out all the time. Seems that the survivor was the father of one of the victims. http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=393652007
It may be an error of judgement, but it should be a lesson to us all... to have your child die in your arms because of a wrong decision that you made will be an unbearable burden for the rest of that guys life. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Elizabeth B wrote: |
| The report in the Times today suggested that the police were investigating foul play. |
That's interesting...
It does seem odd that if they were "carrying the biggest rusack" seen by cross-country skiers, there should have been enough gear to stay alive. What were they carrying on their back (that they didn't use to keep warm)? Cases of beer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
