Do you ride with a beacon, shovel and a probe.

I wouldn't dream of going into the mountains without a beacon, shovel, and probe, Also after a close call I bought a ABS bag and I never leave home without that either. Also take a avalanche course every year (or at least a refresher) and I make sure whoever rides with me has knowledge and equipment themselves. We are, as a group responsible for our own safety and avalanches are for real. If you ride the mountains it can happen to you! be prepared!

Always have a shovel probe and beacon for each rider in our group and make sure everyone knows how to use them(beacons) I have hidden a beacon in the woods at home and had my boys find it before we left for the mountains. Be prepared always hopefully for nothing.

Statistically bags are better if you can manage to pull the cord 100% of the time. The beacon is already on - its a fail safe. Statistically, you are better with both.

charlie700 said:

Statistically bags are better if you can manage to pull the cord 100% of the time. The beacon is already on - its a fail safe. Statistically, you are better with both.

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Both perform different functions. If you are buried with a bag deployed, your buddies will not find you easily unless you have a beacon turned on. The idea of the bag is to float you to the surface and possibly prevent some trauma if it can be deployed. Some pretty experienced riders have not had time or the ability to pull the handle.

A beacon is a necessity, whereas, IMHO, a bag is optional.

Wouldn't ride without one, and keep a spare just in case someone forgets theirs.

My hubby, myself and both our boys (now 10 and 16 yrs old) all ride with back packs. All our packs have shovels, probes, first aid kits and survival kits. We keep extra gloves, socks and emergency snacks. We all wear beacons and teck vests at all times! The boys have been riding for 3 years each and have had their own packs all that time. Safety is our lives...we all are coming home at the end of the day!!

sorry if this rant goes on too long ...

I come from a split boarding background and knew that my first sled would be the end of split boarding. 142 days last season, 137 previous season. I ride with alota snowboarders who all are/were resort riders. I heard one guy say he would never ride with anyone without a beacon. yet I've never seen any of these guys do ANY practise with any avy gear. yet the guy they are talking about is much older and has been riding here in golden for all his life and doesn't have any avy gear. he (without gear) has justified this to me, but it sounds like an excuse.
Soooo if I was smart, (which I'm not coz I'm all for the stupid option!) I shouldn't sled with any of these guys eh? other guys are drinking a beer every time they take their helmet off, or smoking a joint. shouldn't ride with them either eh? few people carry a first aid kit, or if they do, can remember when was the last time they used or checked it for anything more than a bandaid.

I'm not perfect, but many times people question me as to why I used to split board, or now sled by myself. the answer is, because none of these guys want to take a course, check over their gear, update their gear, practise with thier gear, use the internet to research etc etc etc. and I doubt few of them will be able to save me in a truely farked up situation because they are all unprepared.
142 days on snow means I practise and explore. how many people have dug 6ft down in avy debri? do you know how hard it is to do that. we all know it sets like concrete, but on shity days this is what I do ... or how long it takes to dig a snow cave. what if both sleds ch!t the bed and the weather turns ugly? do your buddies have enough ch!t in their pack to survive the night? what if he brakes his back in the back bowls and you have to set him up and go for help.
a beacon is a security blanket for many people, their probe is for checking the depth and the shovel is for digging out sleds or building jumps.


and yes I have been out without gear. but does ditch banging and flat wood lots count. but I still take my shovel coz getting stuck is the game.

airbags ... the handle is the biggest fault on the air bags. either it is not deployed coz buddy couldnt grab it at the time, or ... the trees deploy it! so then your without it. what ya gunna do now? go home? not likely eh? and yes trees deply them all the time around here.

I carry the biggest backpack of any one I know. so much ch!t is in it. 4 pairs of gloves and enough ch!t to do an overnighter anywhere. in my sled is tow rope hockey tape duct tape zap ties straps extra tools etc etc.

I just wish people where more prepared. ok its easy for me coz this is al I do everyday, and I understand people come out from where ever and are on holidays and havent been sledding since last year and are hung over etc etc etc. but could you imagne having to tell buddies wife and or parents why he's dead because you didn't ...

All i have to say about this postwhich was some good reading is "RESPECT MOTHER NATURE" she is a unforgiving cruel bitch

beacon

probe

shovel

back-country experience

brain

Ast1....

refresher every year

one on the hill at a time

know the conditions

and be able to repsect

Mother Nature

And most importantly, watch out for whores like Doug.