If you’re going splitboarding with your friend, here’s the one of the most important things to remember— don’t leave them behind.
El Dorado County Search and Rescue helped a lost splitboarder in Nevada, at the junction of the Warr Trail and Saxon Creek Trail, on December 29, 2024, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The rescued rider and his friend were descending during the dark, and one rider left another alone several miles from the trailhead with no light, and no understanding of how to navigate the terrain. That rider called 911 around 5 p.m., according to a press release published in CarsonNow.org .
Photo&colon Tahoe Search and Rescue
Two members of search and rescue skinned up the Warr Trail from Christmas Valley around 7:30 p.m. to reach the lost splitboarder. An El Dorado Sheriff rescue helicopter confirmed their location by flying over the area. The rescue team reached the subject around 10 p.m. and provided hot chocolate, water, a headlamp, and warm layers, before guiding him back down to the Christmas Valley. The Eldorado Sheriff gave him a lift back to his hotel after midnight.
“Heading out for a backcountry ride without proper navigation and survival gear can go well… until it doesn’t. This party was not prepared for anything but an ideal scenario. Our subject was lucky to have cell phone coverage and just enough battery to use it to call for help,” the press release states. “Even very skilled riders can get lost, stuck, or injured. Stay with your friends and have a plan for when things go wrong. We are here to help when you need it, but rescues always take a long time!”
Freeride snowboarder Leon Butler has spent countless hours in the backcountry, something that’s led to him competing in the Freeride World Tour. Back in 2020, he revealed his top seven tips to backcountry snowboarding in an article for Red Bull’s blog. The number one rule? Never go alone.
“In theory, a route is never safe — that’s the attitude you should have,” he said. “There are many precautions and steps you should always take in order to assess the situation and surroundings. The most important is never move through mountains on your own; it’s good to have other opinions on safety and never be afraid to turn around and go home.”