Nordic Skiing and Knowing your direction on the Ski Trails

I came across a couple of situations where the potential for a danger might have of occurred.

The first event had 2 new skiers, skiing after dark on lit trails, in the city river valley, and the temperature was dropping from +6C to -12C. They had been out night skiing for over an hour and were tired. They did not know where they were. They were frightened and a bit panicky, and the time was now 945pm in the evening. The coyotes were howling close by, and the ladies had seen 5 of them. They were unsure if coyotes attack people. They had come to a junction, and did not know where the trails would take them. They did not want to go even further from the parking lot, but were unsure what direction that was. They called me to describe where they were. The conversation was mixed up because of their panic.

As they were talking with me, thankfully a late skier came by while we were on the phone, and was able to explain to them quickly, which way to go. The ladies called me back shortly thereafter and said everything was fine and they were headed for Tim Horton's for coffee.

Lesson learnt, know where you are when skiing, and carry extra clothes, food, and water.

Second situation had a first time skier out in the bush, skiing with 2 friends. One of the ladies left her friend, to find her boyfriend. There are 4 staging areas several kilometers apart, and their plan was to pick the lady up, from one of those staging areas. She did not know what staging area they had parked at. The clothes she was wearing, were of a bulky cotton nature. Once again the temperature was dropping from -2C to -18C, and it was getting to-wards dark. At that time we stopped and said hello on the trail, and she explained what was happening. We told her the directions to the closest staging area. 

On our way back we decided to swing by the staging area to make sure that the lady was ok. She had made it and was patiently waiting for her friends, she hoped. She did not have her cell phone with her, which may or may not have worked anyway, because of being in a no service phone area, at times. There were 2 cars in the parking lot.

We tried to find firewood but there was none to be found. She did not accept any food or liquid when we offered it to her. We told her to catch ride if she was able, with someone and told her and that we would come back for her in about an hour. We skied quickly back to our car, to another staging area, and drove back to the lady. She and her skis were gone, as she must have caught a ride with one of the 2 cars.

Lesson learnt, know where you are when skiing, and carry extra clothes, food, and water.

                                                        Always exciting skiing for sure.