Having the time of my life....

Before the Avalanche, Brad and his buddies, Todd & Shad were waiting for their other buddy Ben to come to Beaver Mountain to go snowmobiling.    The three decided to take a little ride while they were waiting for Ben to get there.     

Brad got on top of a hill......  took a selfie... and sent it to Jana and a coworker, Luey, saying... Having the time of my life.....    He powered off his phone and then the avalanche happened.  

Brad's body was taken to Salt Lake City for an autopsy because it was an un-attended death.  Then on Sunday night, Jana, Evan and Faith and Devan went to the mortuary because they found out that Brad's body was back from the autopsy and his belongings were there- including Brads cell phone.

Monday Morning Jana plugged in Brads phone... not thinking much about it... and the text of this picture came through.   It had not gone through when he originally sent it.... but it did Monday morning. AFTER Brad had passed.   With the caption.....  "Having the time of my life"

Not the miracle we wanted..... but the miracles that happened-- Tender Mercies

1.    Shad & Todd were able to get a call out to 911 so they were able to PING the exact location where they were.

2.   Todd swears that it was Brad's voice that told him to stand on the sled & jump putting his hand in the air.   (That tells me, that Brad was already gone at this point)

3.  Shad & Todd found the cabin.    They always, always followed Brad.   They were able to find the cabin and get to Ben who was able to take them all down the mountain.

4.  Prayer groups in Brad, Todd, and Shad's wards began praying for a miracle.

5.  Dave Cluff was on the rescue team

6. The prayers that went happened (with the legislature) and everyone else... helped the wind stop so they could retrieve Brad's body and the other machines.

7.  Jana powering up Brads phone and getting the text and the picture saying-- Having the time of my Life....

8.   The hug that I felt from Brad.   I felt his arms wrap all the way around me and I felt him say- I'm okay... just make sure the girls and Jana know that I love them.     In that instant, I knew that Brad had completed his earthly test and had graduated on.

Ward

A ward member came to our house Sunday night knowing that I was headed to St George on Tuesday and brought Travel Treats and water bottles and a little gas money to send us on our way.

They left and I counted the money. $480. Amazing.

Todd Houghton

This is Todd one of the guys in the avalanche. 

I figured their would be plenty people that would like to hear the story, so Im writing it down before it gets covered with emotions and other stress.  I don’t know that I’ll ever forget it, but maybe small details.

Around 5 pm on Feb 7,2019, Brad Stapley, Shad Terry and I went up to prep Brads cabin (up Beaver Canyon) for a little couples weekend trip/birthday time.  One of Brads favorite things to do was snowmobile, and it was always a good time going with him. We went early to spend the day riding before the wives came up that next morning.

There was a recent storm that dropped 34”+ or so, which made the snow super fun and very deep. 

We had decided at the end of our ride to run up a canyon to just look at this big bowl/basin at the bottom of Circleville mntn. Quite a ride in the thick snow off the main trail. None of us planned to try and go up the big shoot, but Ive watched Brad and Shad try a couple times years past.

Up the canyon, Shad led the group and veared off thru the trees towards the east opening. Brad went straight weaving around trees and I followed him. I couldn’t see where Shad had stopped thru the trees, but I stopped about 50 yards into the trees shy of Brad (which was right at the base of the hill in the open). 

Only stopping for a moment, I looked up and saw an Avalanche coming quickly towards us. I yelled to Brad and finally got his attention to which he looked back and quickly tried to takeoff away from the avalanche.  There was nothing I could do..

Within a split second it was almost on top of me, and something told me to stand on my snowmobile and jump straight up.  Split seconds later I was hit by a semi-truck and the force was so powerful it ripped my helmet off, then instantly engulfed me.  The weight and the force was painful.  As I was being covered something told me to reach my hand as high in the air that I could, and at that very same moment – I was buried!

Now it was dark.  It was disturbingly quiet. The pressure was intense – more than I’ve ever felt. I started to hyperventilate and couldn’t really breath. I couldn’t move, and I remember saying aloud, “I am NOT going to die here today, pull yourself together Todd!”Then, I could feel it… My right arm was raised still and I could feel the cold outside air with my fingers. (The force of the avalanche has also ripped off my right glove).

For the next 5 minutes I wiggled my fingers to make a hole, then I could wiggle my hand, then I could start digging to my wrist, then I could slowly move my arm.  Finally fresh air and more light came, and though I was still stuck, I could see light and breath – that was all that mattered.   My left side of my body was in bad shape. I couldn’t dig, and it was hard to move due to the pain.

With one arm, I worked the next 10 minutes or so at unburying myself from now head to waist, then all I could do was scream……

It was quiet… No answers….  I yelled again, then I could hear Shads voice off in the distance. But not Brads…

I pulled my phone out and saw I had 1 bar of service with 5% battery, so I dialed 911.  They were able to ping my location and said they’d get help on the way.  The sun was starting to set.

Minutes later Shad ended up finding me and crawled to help me move to a position to lay down to help with the pain.

Frantically we yelled for Brad. Shad searched, but couldn’t go far from me due to the conditions. We were stuck, and completely hopeless. In pain, cold, and unable to help our friend…

Over the next couple hrs we waited up there. Shad made a few more phone calls to Nicole, and Brads Dad.  We also talked again with 911 and Search and Rescue told us to get out of there. 

Painfully and eventually we made it down the mountain, and to the hospital.  It was about 830pm.   

…. this is not finished; more info to come……

…… Fridays events…  more to come…

Miracles February 7, 2019

As you can imagine I didn’t sleep I kept thinking about my brother his girls his wife and could not fathom the thought of him being gone. As I continued thinking about it, I found that I really hoped and prayed that Brad was gone. If he was alive, he would have been in serious trouble.... He would have been frozen, he would have no food, no communication, nothing.    I didn’t want him up there suffering freezing struggling to survive and all of that .

A friend from growing up in Washington- Travis Seegmiller messaged me early Friday morning.

Shannon, I just heard about Brad being lost in the avalanche. Is there any new news? Did they find him yet? I’m wondering if you would think it’s ok for me to post to my Facebook page to call-on all of District 62 —- the 43,000 people that I represent —- to pray for Brad’s safe return home. Is that ok? Or is this too personal?

I asked him to let me make sure it was ok with Jana and when she gave her ok he sent out.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!!

My good friend from Washington City since childhood, Brad Stapley, age 41, is missing after an avalanche while he was snow mobiling. You probably already saw this in the news (link below). Brad is a prominent local business leader, father and philanthropist—the owner of Stapley’s Pharmacies, including his DinoCrossing Pharmacy that I love, right in the heart of our Legislative District 62.

MY SPECIFIC PLEA IS FOR EVERYONE TO PRAY WITH ALL THE ENERGY OF YOUR HEART FOR BRAD’S SAFE RETURN; FOR THE RESCUERS TO BE SAFELY GUIDED TO FIND HIM SWIFTLY; AND FOR HIS WIFE, SIX DAUGHTERS, PARENTS AND FAMILY TO ALL BE COMFORTED.  (this was at 8:45am)

I never make these kinds of posts, but Brad means so much to me and to our whole community that I implore you to please join your prayers with those of all the State of Utah right now, that he shall be found safe. And please share this post widely so that Brad will have as many prayers as possible in this urgent time frame.

Thank you for being the kind of friends to help out in moments of GREAT need like this.

Sincerely,

Travis Seegmiller

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

UTAH HOUSE DISTRICT 62

PS: reminder to please share this to your Facebook & Instagram groups so that we can get as many urgent prayers for Brad as possible! THANK YOU, FRIENDS!

NEWS ARTICLE: https://www.ksl.com/article/46486109/crews-searching-for-southern-utah-snowmobiler-lost-in-avalanche

8:51am update from Brad’s mom:

” We just met with search and rescue. They are sending a helicopter, dogs, skiers, snowmobiles. Now we just wait and let them do what they do best. Pray for a miracle.”

--Travis later texted me and said that before they met for congress that day- they always say a prayer. Brad's name was said and a special request for miracles was asked for.    The prayer was at 10am.

At 11:21 I received this message from my dad. They have found him, he is gone

My heart broke. My little brother. My annoying (and I say this because we didn’t get along all to well for a long time. I mean we were civil and nice. But we weren’t besties).

My phone started blowing up with texts and FB messages and more. Jared suggested I put my phone on mute for a while to think things through. So I did.

Everyone left my house. And I decided to say a prayer. With tears in my eyes I thanked my heavenly father for Brad. For the good man he was and for the knowledge that families are together forever. 

And it was about at that exact time that I had a warmth spread through my body and a feeling that I was getting the worlds biggest hug. In that second I knew Brad was OK he was in a better place he had passed his test on this earth. As I enjoyed that feeling of Brad hugging me or maybe it was our heavenly father hugging me I had the thought came to my mind that I needed to share with his girls. I ended my prayer and immediately texted the three with phones. Brinly, Brooklin and Madi.

"Please know that your dad loves you. I have felt his comforting hug today and I know he loves you more than words can say. I love you too!"

As the day progressed, I learned more about how they found Brad.  
A helicopter that is usually back east happened to be in Moab, Utah.  This specific helicopter is able to find people lost in the snow.   There is only 2 in the world and one just happened to be close.   

Devan's good buddy growing up was Dave Cluff.   Dave just happened to be on the search and rescue team for Beaver County. 

Dave later told Devan that around 10 am the dogs and helicopter had found Brad, deceased.  As they were trying to get the helicopter to land it was awfully windy.    They couldn't figure out a way to land the helicopter to get Brad's body.   Dave said all of a sudden- right at 10am it was like a light switch turned off the wind.    The helicopter was able to land and retrieve Brad.    They were also able to dig out the two snowmobiles that were buried... and get them back to the base.    After the helicopter left, it was like the switch was turned back on and the wind picked up something fierce.   
That was a total tender mercy or a miracle.  

The Call.... February 6, 2019

Jared and I had taken our kids to go see the Broadway musical, wicked. It was a great show full of fun and excitement and had us singing the whole time. 

We ran into two of Jared’s sisters and we all decided to go to dinner afterwords. So we went to cheesecake factory and laughed the whole time. 

On the way home I received a phone call from my mom telling me that there had been an avalanche and that Brad was missing. Search and rescue were on their way and mom dad and Jana were headed to Beaver. Brad and a couple of his buddies had been snowmobiling where they always do always have. I hung up the phone and our family said a prayer in the car and prayed that Brad would be found. 

We got home and I was just sick with worry thinking how cold it was and it was getting darker and I was so worried. At the same time I felt peace and I knew it would be OK. 

I posted on Facebook pray for a miracle. The miracle I was hoping for was that Brad would be found and I would be well. Several people reached out to me several people that already heard about it and I just asked for prayers.

 I learned that they called off the search and rescue because it was too dark and the conditions were not good for those rescuers to go out. But they would leave at first light and go searching. 

I talk to my dad on the phone and the last thing he said to me was it’s awfully cold to be out tonight it’s going to be even more cold on that mountain.