You should carry enough gear to spend the night out in case you or someone in your group gets lost or injured.
Pack Contents
- Avalanche beacon
- Shovel
- Probe
- Map and Compass
- Flagging
- First Aid/survival kit
- Headlamp
- Bivy sack
- Communication
- Food and water
- Extra clothes
The most important thing to have with you is avalanche knowledge and avalanche educated riding partners.
Airbags Work !
I wrote you once before on your class in Milwaukee, WI and sent you some pictures of a avalanche we witnessed. Well our group went to Castlegar BC Canada and I was caught in an avalanche just sidehilling to get from one spot to another. The good news everything went good from there on we were spread out enough that I was the only one involved and I was wearing my abs pack that you recommended again I thank you. I was traveling across the hill when I saw snow cross my skis as soon as I looked to my left, about a 5' wall of snow hit me and rolled me off my sled I immediately grabbed for the abs handle as I could feel the snow up past the back of my neck, as soon as the bags deployed I was lifted to only waist deep snow as I rode the slab down, I was able to avoid a tree that I was being taken into by the snow, by kind of a bicycling motion that I may have not been able to do without the pack. Here are some more pictures for your class and thanks again we are all very good at our beacons now with less that 2 minutes each finding them. Let me know if you want any more info -- Jeremy Hood
Gear Recommendations.
Some of the gear that we have found to work really well.
Packs
What to look for: Fits your body and doesn’t bounce around, does not interfere with rider movement, and large enough to carry the essential gear.
1. Backcountry Access Stash OB $99.99
2. Backcountry Access Throttle $135
3. Black Diamond Covert $99.99
4. Dakine Heli Pro DLX $95.00
Avalanche Airbag Packs
These packs work and are proven(ABS 98% success rate in actual avalanches). They are expensive, but worth it. Don’t buy too small of a pack, you need to be able to carry the essentials. Use with a beacon, not in place of one.
1. ABS Escape 15 $989.99
2. ABS Vario 15 $1144.99
3. BCA Float 15/30 $685.00/$750.00
4. Snow Pulse Highmark 30L $1099.00
Avalanche Beacons
What to look for: Proven design, durable and easy to use. Most people do not practice enough with their beacons and when you really use it in a rescue situation, you’re usually not in the calmest state of mind. Get the beacon that is easy to use.
1. Backcountry Access Tracker 2 $335.99
2. Barryvox Pulse $449.99
3. Pieps DSP $449.99
4. Ortovox S1 $499.00
Shovel
What to look for: Strong, extendable handle and large blade. The small shovels most people carry are not effective to move the large quantities of snow required to uncover someone (which can be 2000 lbs of snow).
1. Backcountry Access B2 EXT $55.00
2. Black Diamond Transfer 7 $49.99
3. Voile T-Wood T6 shovel $65
Probe
What to look for: Large diameter aluminum tubing or carbon fiber. The longer the probe the more effective it is. Don’t buy a probe under 260cm(8’6”).
1. Backcountry Access Carbon 260 or SR3 $79/$59
2. Black Diamond Quickdraw Guide Probe 300 $59.95
3. G3 320 probe $84.95
