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Show Volume IX Issue V THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 December 15, 2003 Guest Commentary Early Start Snowboarding Results in Broken Femur On Thursday, November 6, 2003, with a new snowfall the night before, Ryan Millet, Chris Brady, and Todd Guthrie, all of Ogden Valley, decided to go snowboarding. They headed up to Powder Mountain about 1:30 p.m. The resort was “not officially open for the season,” but the boys were determined to enjoy the snow. About half way down to the base of the Timberline Lift the young men built a jump by piling up snow. It took them about 2½ hours to build a suitable jump. Ryan’s brother Erick Millet and Colter Tolma arrived on the scene about 4:00 p.m. The jump was just being completed and everyone was anxious to try it out. Each boy took one or two cautious jumps and landed safely. Then Ryan, the most experienced, hiked up the hill to get a longer and faster run. He wanted to try some tricks he was known for. Ryan took off with all watching. He tried to do a 360 off the jump. Unfortunately, he did not complete the rotation. He flew about 60 feet and was going about 50 mph. The landing was very hard, and the femur (large upper leg bone) on his left leg broke, and he fell. Ryan lay moaning and calling for help. The other boys all rushed down to him and could see that Ryan was badly hurt, and was not getting up. He needed help immediately. Chris, Todd, and Colter stayed with Ryan while his brother, Erick, hiked back up to the parking lot looking for help. There had been some snowmobilers there earlier, but they were no longer around. Erick met Matt Tesch and Matt Potter as they drove into the parking lot. He told them what had happened. The three boys then went up to the Powder Mountain Lodge to see if there was something they could use to haul Ryan out with. They found a metal, dog sled type sleigh behind the lodge. They grabbed the sleigh and began taking it down to the parking lot. Just then, a man drove up in a ‘95 or ‘96 Nissan extended cab short bed pickup, white, with a shell on the back. He rolled down his window and said, “You guys can’t use that sled; put it back.” Erick then explained that his brother had a broken leg and was half way down the hill. Erick said they needed help to get him out and up to the parking lot. The driver told him to call an ambulance. He said there was a cell phone in the Lodge if they needed one. The boys said they had a cell phone of their own. The truck driver said it was pre-season and the ski patrol was not there to help them. He said that if they come up here (Powder Mountain) during preseason, they are on their own. The truck driver told them to put the sled back where they had found it. He sat in his truck watching, making sure they took the sleigh back. He then drove away. The boys then went back down to check on Ryan. Matt Potter stayed at the parking lot to keep a look out for someone they could ask for help. The boys decided to try to put a splint on Ryan’s leg. They yelled up to Matt and asked him to bring some tie down straps from their truck. Matt brought them down, and using ski poles, they tried to splint Ryan’s leg. It Wolf Creek to Host New Years Celebration (Eden, Utah) Sean Luebbers, Director of Hospitality for Wolf Creek Resort, has announced plans for this year’s gala New Years Celebration. “After the success of last year’s New Year’s Celebration, we’ve decided to make this an annual event for the community.” The evening’s festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, and will include a four course, sit-down dinner where guests will choose from either Roast Pork Tenderloin or Grilled Alaskan Salmon as their entrée, with Seafood Cocktail, a Salad of Baby Field Greens, and Roasted Winter Vegetables. The meal will be capped off with a selection of desserts, and a coffee and cocoa bar. All the delicious calories of dinner can then be danced off to the sounds of DJ Cindy Sue, who plans to cover a wide range of musical eras with her selection of dance tunes. Party favors will be provided and bubbly will be served to toast the New Year. Guests will be able to watch New Years ring in across the country on the big screen TV. Holiday attire is suggested for this celebration. The cost is $50 per person if reservations are made by December 24, or $450 if people want to organize a table for ten. Thereafter, the cost is $75 per person. Space is limited. Reservations can be made by calling Ashley Wright at 745-3737 ext. 114. Master Card, Visa, and American Express are accepted. Special lodging rates are available for anyone wanting to spend the night at Wolf Creek Resort or the Red Moose Lodge. Please contact Taylee Lundin at 745-373 ext. 117 by December 20 for rate information. quickly became apparent that their efforts caused Ryan too much pain, as he cried out with even the slightest movement. They did not have the needed materials to properly splint and move him. They then went searching for something better to use for splints and to find some means, like a sled, to move Ryan. They also decided to scout again for snowmobilers. Todd, Matt Potter, and Matt Tesch hiked up to the cabins and, fortunately, spotted a snowmobile parked outside a cabin. They knocked on the door and finding Brian Matthias inside, asked him for help. Brian’s friend Jennifer Jenn called Jim Leither to help and then Brian called Steve Gordon as well. The three men responded on their snowmobiles. They brought cardboard for splinting. Meanwhile, Erick went to Millet’s truck and got everything he could find that could be useful, including duct tape and a water bottle. While doing so, a pickup came up the hill to the parking lot and started doing “donuts.” Erick went over to the driver, explained the situation, and asked him to drive to a location where he could get reception on a cell phone and call 911 for an ambulance. The driver said he would. Erick then returned with the three snowmobilers down the hill to where Ryan was still located. Jim Leither had a cargo sled behind his snowmobile. Jim, a former air rescue helicopter pilot, headed the team. They made a splint with cardboard, tie-down straps, and duct tape. The decision was made to wait for the ambulance before attempting to move Ryan. About one half-hour later, an ambulance arrived, manned by Paramedics Mike Quinones and Mike Isom. The snowmobilers took the paramedics down the hill to where Ryan lay. They had a body splint with them, and slid it under Ryan, strapping him to it. Ryan was placed on the cargo sled and pulled by snowmobile slowly up the hill to the parking lot and waiting ambulance. Erick Millet rode in the ambulance with his brother, Ryan, to the hospital in Ogden. Ryan required immediate surgery; a titanium rod was placed in the femur to hold it straight. Ryan stayed in the hospital until Sunday afternoon. He has now resumed attending his classes on his crutches at Weber State University, and looks forward to a “full recovery.” The “moral” to the story is: 1. Do not get too anxious when the first snow falls, and 2. When accidents happen and the ski patrol is not on duty, it is a “make do” situation. This story has a happy ending, but femur breaks are serious business and can result in death at the scene if tissue damage becomes extensive and severe blood loss occurs. Ryan did not enjoy his 2½-hour wait lying on the cold snow in pain. His life plans have been altered somewhat, and certainly his snowboarding plans are on hold. Finally, a big thank you to “the Warden” in the truck that called 911. A giant thanks to the snowmobile rescuers, Jim Leither, Steve Gordon, and Brian Matthias, who interrupted their play to help out when needed. Let’s also remember that when trouble occurs, that the paramedics do their job with little thanks. Mike Quinones and Mike Isom, the paramedics, thanks to you. Chuck Millet, Grandfather Eden Celeste C. Canning PLLC Attorney at Law 2456 Washington Boulevard, Suite C Ogden, Utah 84401 Local: 801 791-1092 Office: 801 612-9299 Email: ccanninglaw@aol.com Meeting the Legal Needs of Small Business and Their Owners FREE Initial Thirty Minute Consultation. Appointments in Ogden Valley upon request. KEN TURNER OGDEN VALLEY SPECIALIST Happy Holidays Multi-Million Dollar Producer President’s Club Award Winner - Sales Master 801.710.8800 Ogden Valley Hours: Open Monday - Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 4920 E. 2550 N. 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