Avalanche Survivors' Gut-Wrenching Choice

3 Survivors Of Avalanches That Killed 8 Of Their Friends Had To Decide Whether To Save Selves Or Try To Find, Help Them

(CBS)  Thousands of people turned out in the small town of Sparwood, British Columbia Sunday to remember eight snowmobilers who died in a series of avalanches on December 28.

Three men managed to survive, but were forced to make a decision no friend should ever have to face: whether to expose themselves to more danger on the mountain in western Canada by continuing to try to find and rescue the others, or leave and get help for themselves.

It took two days for search teams to recover the bodies of the eight victims.

On The Early Show Monday, one of the other three, Jeff Adams, described his ordeal.

He says the families of the victims have reassured the survivors that they made the right decision -- "Without the right equipment, there was nothing we could do."

"We were all amazing friends," he added.

[poohbearcole]

okay, so about the ''''common sense'''' thing. it makes me mad to see you write that b/c WE ALL do things that make us go "i shouldnt have done that" but we still do it. i think our hearts and prayers should be with the families, and not on why did you do it. i think it would be better if we just let the 3 lucky ones move on, b/c for the rest of their lives they will be the ones going "why did we go on the trip we knew better"...why?

[poohbearcole]

I understand you on the common sense thing. you know we cant be mad at them for doing it. i think the 3 who lived are very lucky and i would have not been able to make decide which to do. so, dont beat yourself up. let their memory live on forevr. my heart is with the families!

[tehkummah-2009]

The first rule of survival is to not put yourself and others in danger by purposely putting yourself in harm''s way.

My heart goes out to these young men and their families. Yes, they were doing what they loved, but was it worth the risk they all took? They all chose to ignore the avalanche warnings, and now their families and community are left with such sorrow.

Common sense could have prevented this entire tragedy.

[hatesthecolt]

Thanks for your being amicable to consider BC part of us in how you classify your news clips,
but no thanks BC still wants to stay part of Canada
and not part of US.

Posted by ltbriar

yeah, I noticed that and wondered, but these knuckleheads could just have easily been from here so I think we all just jumped on it.

[ltbriar-2009]

Thanks for your being amicable to consider BC part of us in how you classify your news clips,
but no thanks BC still wants to stay part of Canada
and not part of US.

[hatesthecolt]

Geez, now I know I have been doing this too long.... I actually found common ground w/ DaVicar!

As for you who want to criticize us computer chair jockeys, did it ever occur to you that maybe we DO do outdoor time (skiing, hiking etc) but that we''re smart enough to make it back? I know I''m still alive which is more than I can say for this guy''s buddies.

[usclimey]

One of the first rules of life-saving is don''t put yourself in a position where you''re going to be the second victim. If these guys had stayed with their buddies there would have probably been 11 bodies and noone to find them. At least this way you have three survivors who knew where to lead the recovery party. I for one think they did the right thing.

[vcofreason]

It always amazes me, these self righteous idiots who sit in their computer chairs, warm, sipping hot chocolate and try to sound all pompous and sure of themselves. NO ONE but those people on that day on that mountain could ever have made the decisions that they made. It is beyond comprehensible the gravity of their decision and how they came to make it. There is no way you would ever know what to do until you were there and without proper equipment and the imminent danger of another landslide, getting out was the right thing to do. You morons act like their hands were sticking out of the snow and the survivors said, ''Forget you buddy, I''m saving myself''. You sound like fools.

My heart goes out to all of these families sharing immeasurable grief. In response to the "armchair experts" I say, ignore them. Their criticism means nothing.

[navyjimfl]

I feel for the parents of the young men who died and the 3 survivors who were just plain lucky their risky behavior allowed them to live.......

[akgirl7]

What a horrible thing to say, that they were chicken to try to get out of there. The survivors have to live with it the rest of their lives. They lost their friends for god sake.

[hatesthecolt]

BAN SNOWMOBILES FROM NATIONAL PARKS! Make these weenies go kill each other on private lands.

[hober_mallow]

If the people could''ve gotten out, but the snowmobiles themselves covered up, that would''ve been a good start.