Knowing how and when to use avalanche safety equipment is important in back country mountain settings. A standard back country avalanche kit includes a transceiver, a probe and a shovel. Back-country skiers, snow boarders, climbers and snowmobilers should carry avalanche safety equipment and know how to use it.
Tranceivers
Transceivers, often called beacons, are hand-size devices that can track a radio frequency or send one. They are worn over the chest and are only effective if there is more than one transceiver present. During back-country travel, beacons are set to emit a signal. In the event an avalanche buries a victim, party members can switch their devices to search and track the signal location of the transmitting beacon. Transceivers run on battery power, so users should check them frequently. Transceivers cost $200 to $300 in 2010.
Probes
Probes are telescoping poles used to help locate victims. Similar to tent poles, they are long, hollow aluminum tubes that are pulled together by elastic cord and quickly assembled. Once the location of the victim's signal is determined, the probes are elongated, some up to 12 feet long, and poked into the snow in the effort to make contact with the buried victim. They are light and easy to carry and cost around $50 in 2010.
Shovels
Back-country shovels are very important. Once the searching party has located the signal of the victim and made contact with a probe, shovels are used to dig out the victim. Many avalanche shovels can be broken down and stored in backpacks. Often made of strong plastic, a good, light shovel is one that can preform well in an emergency. According to the National Data for Ice and Snow, digging a 1 square meter pit by hand takes about 40 minutes, while using a shovel takes 10 minutes. Avalanche shovels start at about $40 in 2010.
Kinds of Tranceivers
Transceivers come in two varieties: analog and digital. Analog transceivers send out and receive a single signal with one antenna. They often use an audible beep that intensifies or diminishes when in search mode. Digital transceivers use more than one antenna and also employ a kind of microprocessor to help users determine signal strength. Digital transceivers often have visual aid lights or arrows that point searchers toward a signal's strength. According to REI.com, visual indicators are useful in high winds or weather that may interfere with audible signals.
Experience with Equipment
Optimum safety in avalanche-prone terrain is a combination of several things: an awareness of the angle, or slope, of the terrain, the snow pack or structural stability of the snow, and the ability to use the safety equipment properly in emergency circumstances. Courses in avalanche safety are highly recommended for those who venture into the back country. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, 2,300 avalanches are reported in Colorado alone every season, with an estimated 10 times that amount going unreported.
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