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miko
Well-known member
I've heard of guys getting in an avy and loosing there sled. Had to dig his buddy out by hand and sticks....Barely.
I'm keeping one with me and the sled.
anyone carry a shovel on their sled too?
- Thread starter xsummit
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I've heard of guys getting in an avy and loosing there sled. Had to dig his buddy out by hand and sticks....Barely.
I'm keeping one with me and the sled.
I used to keep it under hood on my ZX. Then under seat on my Crossfire, then I took Mikes avy class, now its on my back!
I carry one in my pack along with probe. Now I carry another shovel and probe on the sled. You never know when your pack will get buried and your sled don't.
back shovel !!!!
Please don't ever ride unless you have a beacon and shovel on you!! In an avi you will get split from your sled you can't dig for your buddies if you have to find your sled first!! Think of the worst possible problem then plan for it. after training with local SAR. I spent big $$$ for beacons, prob's and shovels please don't take chances. were talking seconds here, when it comes to digging!!!
Please don't ever ride unless you have a beacon and shovel on you!! In an avi you will get split from your sled you can't dig for your buddies if you have to find your sled first!! Think of the worst possible problem then plan for it. after training with local SAR. I spent big $$$ for beacons, prob's and shovels please don't take chances. were talking seconds here, when it comes to digging!!!
Sounds like they made more than one mistake.... Never expose more than one rider at a time to an avy prone area.
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snowww1
Well-known member
If you only have one shovel, carry it in a pack. That way if your buddy gets buried and your sled gets buried, you can still rescue him.
If you have an ABS pack. Carry a shovel in the pack and also a shovel on the sled. You do not want to take off the ABS pack in avalanche terrain or in a runout zone to get the shovel out of it. Better to keep the ABS on and grab the extra shovel off the sled.
Most people buy the small shovels. Consider that you have to move 1500 to 2000 pounds of snow to uncover someone who is buried 3' down. If the shovel is not big enough to consider shoveling your driveway with, you should not consider digging to save someone's life with it.
Buy a metal shovel with an extendable handle. Buy your friend a big shovel.
Mike Duffy
If you have an ABS pack. Carry a shovel in the pack and also a shovel on the sled. You do not want to take off the ABS pack in avalanche terrain or in a runout zone to get the shovel out of it. Better to keep the ABS on and grab the extra shovel off the sled.
Most people buy the small shovels. Consider that you have to move 1500 to 2000 pounds of snow to uncover someone who is buried 3' down. If the shovel is not big enough to consider shoveling your driveway with, you should not consider digging to save someone's life with it.
Buy a metal shovel with an extendable handle. Buy your friend a big shovel.
Mike Duffy
Always one in my pack, with the probe and lunch/water/food stuffs, and the beacon as usual. I thought about putting another shovel on the sled for stucks. But really, if im stuck enough to need a shovel, the pack is going to come off most likely anyways.
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overboard
New member
Thought about attaching to outside of sled for years and finally did a couple years ago - one of the best things I ever did.
Uses aftermarket belt holders to clamp shovel. Bolted onto pelican (best storage ever - always dry !) with an aluminum backer plate(to avoid breaking the case when puling shovel out), covered bolt heads with weatherstripping that adds a bit of cushion/tightness to shovel handle when inserted.
Here is my '09 version, very similar to what I did in '07.
Uses aftermarket belt holders to clamp shovel. Bolted onto pelican (best storage ever - always dry !) with an aluminum backer plate(to avoid breaking the case when puling shovel out), covered bolt heads with weatherstripping that adds a bit of cushion/tightness to shovel handle when inserted.
Here is my '09 version, very similar to what I did in '07.
I have always carried a shovel on my sled, used to carry one under the hood, often too hard to get to when stuck, try to avoid avalanche areas, try to only expose one person at a time. I would hate to have to depend on one of those tiny avalanche shovels.
This is handy!
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snowmobiler
Well-known member
looks kinda narly if your sled rolled over you.
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volcano buster
Well-known member
Avalanche issues aside, I carry mine in my pack for three reasons.
1) unless you ride strictly trails (and we all claim not to) then sooner or later you are going to poke your hood into a snow bank or lay your sled over on its side or top to the point you can't get the hood open to get the shovel out.
2) I can jump off my sled and help a buddy out and not have to go back for the shovel. My shovel and saw are in the pack so I can walk/run over and help someone that may be in a bad situation and still have my tools with me.
3) sooner or later we tend to ride across ponds, lakes, or creeks. If I lose my sled "in the drink" I still have my tools.
I do agree that a bigger shovel is better than a small one, but having shovelled a lot of snow when I lived in Idaho, I know that I work better with a balanced shovel. Balanced between a tad too small in powder and not too big in wet heavy snow. If the shovel is too big in the wet snow, you can work too hard trying to find smaller bites or you expire too quickly. However with a smaller shovel you can work longer.
VB
1) unless you ride strictly trails (and we all claim not to) then sooner or later you are going to poke your hood into a snow bank or lay your sled over on its side or top to the point you can't get the hood open to get the shovel out.
2) I can jump off my sled and help a buddy out and not have to go back for the shovel. My shovel and saw are in the pack so I can walk/run over and help someone that may be in a bad situation and still have my tools with me.
3) sooner or later we tend to ride across ponds, lakes, or creeks. If I lose my sled "in the drink" I still have my tools.
I do agree that a bigger shovel is better than a small one, but having shovelled a lot of snow when I lived in Idaho, I know that I work better with a balanced shovel. Balanced between a tad too small in powder and not too big in wet heavy snow. If the shovel is too big in the wet snow, you can work too hard trying to find smaller bites or you expire too quickly. However with a smaller shovel you can work longer.
VB
What size or model Pelican is that. I have the same rack and that one seems to fit nice
Carry one in the seat and one in the pack. The one on the sled is for when you or your buddies are stuck. The one in the pack is to save your buddies life! Or if your climbing and your sled rolls down the hill, you can use the one in your pack as a sled.
For sure a shovel in your pack..........But,
I was thinking of getting one of those sno claw/scoops things to carry on my sled. I was curious how they worked? Anybody use one? -00's
I was thinking of getting one of those sno claw/scoops things to carry on my sled. I was curious how they worked? Anybody use one? -00's
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You should always carry one in your backpack if you ride in the mountains. Having a shovel on your sled is convenient, but if you get stuck in an avalanche and lose your sled, you won't have anything to dig your friends out.
I just pack one in my backpack, if I'm stuck enough to need a shovel then I end up getting half nakked anyways 
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