Lawrence Agosti felt the knot in his gut tighten as he waited for a response on his radio. Nothing. Darkness was closing in fast and the falling snow made it harder and harder to see. Standing on the rails of his snowmachine, he tried pressing the radio button and calling his buddy again. Still nothing.
For years, he and his family and friends had been riding these hills and trails. He’d felt confident and happy. Today he felt mad at himself and keenly aware, he had screwed up big time. He’d taken too much for granted. Somehow, one of their friends had become separated from their three-man group while riding across the hills. Now he realized, he had no idea where to look. He also knew, no matter what happened, they didn’t have time to make it back to the truck tonight.
Normally he carried plenty of emergency supplies but he’d failed to replenish his gear for this ride. He’d been focused on the excitement of riding in fresh snow. Now it had become heavy, wet snow that made it a huge challenge to ride. He could feel it covering his body and soaking through his gloves.
Hitting the call button, he tried again. “Hey partner, you got a copy?”
His heart slammed against his chest with relief when the radio crackled to life and his missing friend finally answered the call.
“I’m here,” came the response. “I’ve been searching for you guys. I’m on a ridge overlooking the lake. Can you see the island?”
Agosti and his other friend searched the fading light. “There it is,” his friend said pointing out the island just ahead through the falling snow.”
“Yeah, we see it,” he told his friend on the radio.
“Okay, let’s all head there and we can meet up.”
Relief flooded through every pore of Agosti’s body when he and his friends were finally reunited. “We are going to have to hunker down and wait out this storm,” he said. “We need to build a shelter and try to get some protection.”
As they searched their meager supplies, his fear and frustration rose again. He had managed to scrounge up one emergency space blanket for three grown men, one hand warmer, and no way to light a fire because the two Bic lighters he carried in his bag were both soaking wet. His friends had even less to offer.
Working together they managed to dig out a small, crude snow shelter and the three men crawled inside. It didn’t take long before the discomfort of trying to lie still in the tiny cramped space became unbearable. The cold made their bodies ache and Agosti and one of his friends decided they were better off trying to get one of the sleds started for warmth.
As the night wore on, the real possibility they might not make it out alive hit him hard. He cursed his lack of preparedness and swore, if they did survive, he’d make sure he never left without a full stash of emergency gear.
When daylight dawned, weak and weary, the men set out for the trailhead. It didn’t take long before they spotted a posse of friends and family heading their direction.
Relief flooded through the group. They were going to make it out alive. This time. Agosti knew, this hard-fought lesson would stay with him for the rest of his riding days. He planned to make sure he never found himself in a similar situation in the future.
September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Take the time to attend the 18th annual Mat-Su Preparedness Expo at the Menard Sports Center on Saturday, September 26th from 10am to 3pm and ensure you and your family and friends are prepared for all types of emergencies and disasters.
This free event, made possible thanks to the Mat-Su Borough Department of Emergency Services, Alaska Safe Riders, AARP Alaska, Links Mat-Su, the American Red Cross, the Mat-Su Health Foundation, and more than 90 other exhibitors and sponsors, features lots of hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, safety equipment, and much more for all ages.
Get all the details at https://alaskasaferiders.org or https://ready.matsugov.us
Story by Debra McGhan