Avalanche Flotation Device tested in BC

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

We just got back from testing an Avalanche Flotation Device in Invermere, British Columbia. We had great results rolling 5 class 2 avalanches over 170 pound test dummies outfitted with 150 liter avalanche lift bags (air bags). In all 5 slides the test dummies with air bags floated to the surface of the slides. A control test dummy with no lift bag was buried 3 meters.

Here is the first slide:

First we longline in the dummies.........

Then we use 20 pound ANFO bombs to initiate the slide....

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

It really took a long time for the slide to get going....

......but eventually a nice class 2 got rolling..........

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

...................

Eventually a nice powder cloud got going and we lost sight of the dummies.....

We found the lift bags on top after the slide.........

Nelson · Jan 20, 2009

I would like to see video footage of these avy air bags. A definite investment. Now if they ever get used can they be repacked or are they done once they go off like a vehicle airbag?

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

The 2 lift bags with dummies were found on the surface and together. The control dummy was buried 3 meters below them. The faces of the test dummies with airbags were between 12 and 24 centimeters below the surface.

We found that the lift bags (air bags) were positioned directly on top of the test dummies faces. The bags are quite large (150 liters) and displaced that much heavy snow away from the heads of the dummies. This made it extremely easy to pull snow away from the heads. The lift bags aid in shoveling as you can guide your shovel down alongside them to the victim.

We also felt that as the avalanches slowed to a stop a human being struggling inside the slide would have shed more snow than an inert test dummy, and would not have been buried as deeply as the dummy.

It was also interesting that in each slide the test dummies remained relatively close to each other throughout the slide.

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

The video is terrific. It's also in our California lab, and not here in our manufacturing lab here in Minnesota. We'll post the vid when the Cali boys are done with it.....

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

Of course not everything always goes as planned. We managed to blow up a $1000 test dummy. Here's a shot of the ANFO bomb in the air about to hit that rock and bust open......

If you look carefully you can see the yellow ANFO beads on the hill below the rock and above the dummy. The detonators have rolled down the hill and are laying under the dummy.....

Boom.......

Everything got cleaned up the next day.........

DARKO · Jan 20, 2009

Now theres some proof !!!!!!!

GREAT THREAD, Keep posting

WARY · Jan 20, 2009

Avi-Vest......

buck50 · Jan 20, 2009

awesome to see!!!!!!!!! makes me feel even better about my recent investment!!!!!!!!!!!! i'll have my 30L ABS pack on friday, just in time to go riding on the weekend!!!! and just like all the other safety gear i have, hope to never use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!