No matter how good of an outdoors person you are, you can't beat Mother Nature.

The sad thing is that people equate "very experienced" snowmobiler with proper avalanche training-- two very different things. In fact, snowmobilers with OUR nice new machines are the ones getting buried and killed most often. The old timer backcountry skiers with proper training know what to ski, what not to ski, and how to find someone fast if they get caught. Anyway, all of us winter outdoors people could do with some good avvy training.

My heart goes out to this poor family. It is so easy to just read words in the paper-- but there is a family there who is beyond sorrow about this.

I knew this man very well, and was very close to one of his daughters, and he was one of the most generous people i knew....I've been to their home multiple times and every time i was at there house he was always smiling, and just loving life. He was a hard worker, and he loved his family so much! He always wanted what was best for them. Everyone i knew loved dave balls, i can't say enough about the man, and how sorry i am for the family!! I have been praying for all of you none stop since the tragedy, I cant stop thinking about how incredible of a family you guys are, and hope and pray that you all may be comforted during these times, I know you all will see him again!