Which readers own a transceiver.............

[AHM]

There is a lot of talk of backcountry skiing in here, as well as off trail woods skiing. For those who venture into avalanche conditions--Whiteface Slides/ADK or Mt Washington/Presidentials--who owns and regularly uses probe, transceiver, and shovel. If you own a transceiver, which one and why.

I use the BCA Tracker DTS. Love the fast response and incredible ease of use. You can show someone with no experience how to use a tracker and they've got it fast!!Also, had a very well respected guide trying to "confuse" me in a multiple burial scenario, but each time the digital was able to find each transceiver, as many as 4 in under 15 min, the time limit in which there is a 90 % chance of recovering the skier alive. So, love my tracker. Did ok in a range finding exercise last year, still receiving a signal at over 35 m.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

There is a lot of talk of backcountry skiing in here, as well as off trail woods skiing. For those who venture into avalanche conditions--Whiteface Slides/ADK or Mt Washington/Presidentials--who owns and regularly uses probe, transceiver, and shovel. If you own a transceiver, which one and why.

Do you own a transceiver or do you have one implanted in your head so your home planet can reach you when they want?

Seriously though I could use a set up just for Silver at WF

For access to the Slides, the Whiteface Ski Patrol has created the following Rules:
·Bronze – Slides will not open based on avalanche danger, lack of snow cover, or other operational considerations.

·Silver – Slides will open but based on conditions, ski patrol will require avalanche precautions such as a beacon, shovel, and probe.

·Gold – Slides are open with the stipulation that guests must be groups of two or more at ski patrol’s discretion.

You own your own touring company, how about hookin me up with a deal on a used set up. I’m talking insider, best bud, pro, below pro form deal.

 

[riverc0il]

i do not own a transceiver nor do i have practice or experience (which, imo, is more important than actually owning one... knowing how to use it). the only avi terrain i enter are the gullies and ravines of the presis, but i only ski them when avi terrain is as close to nil as it ever gets (of course, avi risk is never absolutely zero). i generally track avi conditions daily in the spring and only make the trip when all conditions are low and generally have been for a fair amount of time.

 

[SkiDork]

Do you own a transceiver or do you have one implanted in your head so your home planet can reach you when they want?

Seriously though I could use a set up just for Silver at WF

For access to the Slides, the Whiteface Ski Patrol has created the following Rules:
·Bronze – Slides will not open based on avalanche danger, lack of snow cover, or other operational considerations.

·Silver – Slides will open but based on conditions, ski patrol will require avalanche precautions such as a beacon, shovel, and probe.

·Gold – Slides are open with the stipulation that guests must be groups of two or more at ski patrol’s discretion.

You own your own touring company, how about hookin me up with a deal on a used set up. I’m talking insider, best bud, pro, below pro form deal.

what determines which condition in effect?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

what determines which condition in effect?

Level of danger as determined by ski patrol.

 

[dmc]

I own a BCA tracker...

It kicks ass...

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I have an Ortovox F1 fully analogue transceiver. It's closest to what I learned on and is fine for the dozen times a year I'm in avi terrain a season.

I also have an Ortovox M2. I give that to whomever I'm skiing with who doesn't have a tranceiver;-)

 

[AHM]

To practice, you must own own

"i do not own a transceiver nor do i have practice or experience (which, imo, is more important than actually owning one... knowing how to use it)"

Steve: to practice, you gotta own one, preferrably two. I practice with it all the time. Can work it so easily, but you are right, all who own need to practice with it all the time to ensure you can use it when it counts. Most likely you will know the person burried as they will have been skiing with you. So practice all the time.............this is easy when you live in a place that gets lots of snow and you can do beacon searches right in your back yard.

Based on the posts here, not a lot of AZ'ers own transceivers. As mentioned, many only go in avie terrain when it is "safe" meaning spring corn and just the freeze-thaw cycle that builds a bomber snow pack in spring. If you start going to the Pres, and other areas when the snowpack is a bit more unstable, it would probably be beneficial to own the safety gear and take an avalanche course. Enjoy the season.............its right around the corner...........the big maple in my yard is starting to change...............

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

" As mentioned, many only go in avie terrain when it is "safe" ..........

You can count me in as a member of that group. I have a very healthy respect/fear of avalanches. Not the way I want to go out.

 

[koreshot]

I own one but never wear it on the ice coast - i only ski inbounds. I have used it a few times out west (Silvertong and JH) and on a trip in south america.

I generally ski on my own and try to seek out secret stashes of snow and tight lines and my biggest fear on big mountains, even when skiing in bounds, is getting lost. I have always wondered what would happen if I hurt myself or got myself stuck - would ski patrol find me? How quickly? At a mountain the size of JH or as empty as Solitude yelling can only get you so far.

Just last year something like that happened to me. I was skiing a foot of fresh pow in Grand Targhee, on my own. There were so few people that i spent all day making powder turns, but was forced to keep traversing a little further every time. By 3:30 i had traversed to the edge of the OB line. On my last run down, i took a spill cause i suck and went face first into a tree well. So here i am burried in powder face planted into the tree my ski tails barely sticking out of the snow and I can't move. The mountain is about to close, the light is not great and I remember seeing the fog rolling back in before my last run. Would ski patrol find me before next morning?

After 15 minutes of paniced pushing, digging, using my hands to flatten the snow enough to turn over, i was able to reach my bindings with my left hand and unclick myself, at which point getting out of the well was a piece of cake. But it was REAL close, if i had been ever so slightly more stretched out i would have never reached the skis with my hand and would be at the mercy of ski patrol.

This is why I am considering getting a high quality, reliable walkie talkie. Do ski areas normally have an emergency channel?

 

[JimG.]

I don't...it's perpetually on the list of things to buy, but most of my BC skiing is done in spring when it's not much of an issue.

I have borrowed or rented a transceiver for the times I have been in avi terrain in winter, most notably in Las Lenas and Portillo. I have trained using them. It's alot of fun when you're practicing.

I'd assume it's not so much fun when it's for real.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

This is why I am considering getting a high quality, reliable walkie talkie. Do ski areas normally have an emergency channel?

Some areas monitor FRS channel 9-11. Given the low output and poor antenna design of most of the radios, I wouldn't bet my life that someone might hear it.

 

[lloyd braun]

This is why I am considering getting a high quality, reliable walkie talkie. Do ski areas normally have an emergency channel?

for what you are worried about I think RECCO reflectors are the best, if your mountain uses that technology

i use this

 

[koreshot]

In general, how does ski patrol address scenarios like this? Scenarios where people get stuck in the woods or a remote area of the inbounds whether because of a tree well, injury, muslce pull, etc... I wonder how often this happens and I wonder how often scenarios like this result is something tragic.

Thanks for the radio recommendations. I honestly know nothing about walking talkies - if anyone could quickly educate me about them (what should i be looking for for a good, dependable walkie talkie that could help me out in a jam like this and what brands or models should be avoided) i would appreciate it. I am not so concerned about this on the east coast - its more of an issue out west.

 

[lloyd braun]

In general, how does ski patrol address scenarios like this? Scenarios where people get stuck in the woods or a remote area of the inbounds whether because of a tree well, injury, muslce pull, etc... I wonder how often this happens and I wonder how often scenarios like this result is something tragic.

Thanks for the radio recommendations. I honestly know nothing about walking talkies - if anyone could quickly educate me about them (what should i be looking for for a good, dependable walkie talkie that could help me out in a jam like this and what brands or models should be avoided) i would appreciate it. I am not so concerned about this on the east coast - its more of an issue out west.

RECCO check it out. It can save you

 

[AHM]

The problem with Recco.......................

When an avalanche happens, there isn't time to go get ski patrol. Those on the scene need to be able to handle the situation. Also, backcountry skiing usually does not have patrol so you need to be self reliant and have and know how to use an avalanche transceiver.

The reason I put this post up was to gauge how many of the posters were actually spending time in avalanche terrain. I got the answer I was looking for, and that was few own or set out in avalanche conditions. Which is fine. If I posted on an SLC forum, I would expect to find a whole lot more owners and users.

Being a skier that goes out during avalanche conditions (recall, it is my own choice and I have prepared for it, that doesn't mean it isn't scary, nothing like getting on the 'freak and the yellow light is flashing that the avie level is 4 out of 5 on the French scale) I use a transceiver and have one with me at all times when the need is present.

A recco is a fine way to go for resort skiing, however, I significanly doubt that a skier that goes down in say Fernie's snake ridge or Tayton bowl at Pano or really out of bounds at Stowe is going to be rescued by having a Recco on. It will be very difficult to cover the vast amount of terrain in some of those areas. I know a lost or injured skier in SB's slidebrook basin (2 miles wide) would not be easy to find, especially if the run is late in the day and the light starts to fade.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Yea...don't think a walkis-talkie would do much good if your buried underneath an avalanche and can barely move a muscle. If a walkie-talkie allows you to trasmit without having to push some sort of button would probably help but yelling into it "i'm over here" would not help your buddies who are frantically trying to find you.

When I was a young and crazy out west, taking way too many risks, I remember crossing avalance prone slopes in the BC and even tho we took every precausion, crossing one at a time, I remember my heart pounding so hard and loud that I thought it would set one off. Interestingly out west alot of avalanche victimes are snowmobilers who I think rarely would have a transeivers.

I would never ski BC anywhere where the avalanche danger was present without a transceiver and agree with AHM and Steve that it's critical that everyone in your group knows how to use it.

 

[JimG.]

Interestingly out west alot of avalanche victimes are snowmobilers who I think rarely would have a transeivers.

I assure you that the smart ones do.

 

[koreshot]

Yea...don't think a walkis-talkie would do much good if your buried underneath an avalanche and can barely move a muscle. If a walkie-talkie allows you to trasmit without having to push some sort of button would probably help but yelling into it "i'm over here" would not help your buddies who are frantically trying to find you.

I know this may sound inflamatory, but -- no, really? we are not stupid. thanks.

Nobody here was suggesting that either a walkie talkie or a RECCO device is a replacement in any way shape or form for a transciever. The discussions of Walkie Talkies and RECCO devices came up when I painted a scenario that may not warrant something as serious as a transciever - getting lost or stuck (due to gear damage, injury, fatigue, etc) on a large mountain where ski patrol isn't expected to comb every single crany. This almost happened to me, and I have heard and read about a number of lost and frostbitten cases happened both on the east and west coast.

A RECCO and/or a walkie talkie can be equally and potentially more beneficial in one of these situations. There is a reason why just about all large resorts out west have adopted the RECCO system.

 

[SkiDork]

minor nit:

is it really a transciever? Or is it just a transmitter?