AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Once, while with a buddy in the backcountry of the Rocky Mountains many years ago, I triggered a small avalanche. It was a slow-mover; nothing to get excited about - or so I thought. It slowly encompassed me, bolted my feet to the ground, then slid past my waist. I waited, helpless and stationary, observing with wide eyes as the snow, unhurried, ticked around me. It moved like the final counts of the giant spinning wheel on the Price is Right. And just like a Showcase Showdown contestant, I waited. Would it stop at my chest? No. My shoulders? No. Moving, moving… and then it stopped. Under my chin. Less than a ruler’s worth of snow depth kept me from possibly meeting my maker. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. After a lot of digging, (and jokes about leaving me in my crazy situation), my friend dug me free. But I will never forget the pressure around my whole body and how innocent the avalanche looked.
In those days avalanche safety was not talked about much. When we went out riding, or skiing, we never checked avalanche conditions as that wasn’t even an option then. On a heavy snow day, sleds of the past could barely get out of the meadow, so hills didn’t pose a high threat. Now, sleds can go further into the backcountry and to higher elevations than ever before.
The first step of true avalanche safety is staying away from precarious locations and situations when there is an avalanche threat. The second line of defense is to GET EDUCATED! Good gear is only worthwhile if you have practiced and know how to use it! Your airbag and other avy tech will provide a second lifeline in case, even after taking the necessary precautions, you still end up in trouble.
Ignorance is no longer an acceptable excuse for not checking conditions and wearing avalanche gear. Everyone out West should be riding with an avalanche airbag system, beacons, probes and shovels. I hear people say airbags are too expensive, but when you are about to be buried, the expense of the airbag suddenly becomes irrelevant. There are a lot of options available out there to keep you safe, and we’ve evaluated many of them. However, the message we want everyone to understand is that it does not matter what brand you purchase, just purchase something. Most importantly, get educated and learn how to use the pack, probe, beacon and shovel together effectively! No excuses, it may cost you money to get the proper education but it is well spent and ultimately more important than the fuel you are putting in your sled to go ride!
Comparing packs
We compared five different airbag packs to help you find the one that works best for you. Evaluation was done in five categories: weight, price, type of airbag filling technology, if the device allows the user to practice without refilling cylinders, and if the pull trigger is designed for right or left hand response.