Avy packs in the sled vids??

[GDG]

Something I'd like you people who make/are in snowmobile videos to answer me.....Anyone ever notice that half of the riders in the snowmobile videos don't wear avalanche packs? What gives?? Throughout the avy training courses I've took through different providers around the west, they all preach 1 of the same things: WHEN RIDING THE BACKCOUNTRY, KEEP YOUR SHOVEL, PROBE, BEACON, AND OTHER IMPORTANT EQUIPMENT ON YOU(in a pack, not on your snowmobile) AT ALL TIMES, RIDING OR WATCHING

Alot of the people I ride with use that as an excuse when I call them out on not wearing a pack say, "Well the 'professionals' in the movies don't, why should I?"(I'm about to find different people to ride with) Believe it or not, now matter how old or young, the fellow riders in the sled industry look up to you guys in the movies.

So, Simple question: What is your reason for not wearing a pack? I'd love to hear a legitimate reason why avalanche safety is put in a back seat to looking "cool" on the big screen. Let's hear it.

 

[suitcase]

Interesting point! Im not a movie star but I watch alot of those sled vid's. I must say that some time you do see them, some times you don't see them wear packs. IMO after watching one today, that when some of them are riding in the trees like CB does alot of in his movies. The Avy danger is very very low, or there is no danger at all. In the movies that they are climbing big chutes in the spring the don't have them on, because the avy danger is very very low,or none at all. I do see, the top riders wear them in diffrent times, as the snow changes in the movie, Must be that the avy danger is high. I understand that they are roll models for young riders. But when riding in the backcountry, you must use common since.
If the avy danger is high in my area, we don't go to the big country, we stay in the trees where it is safer. I'm sure the top riders are no diffrent.

Just talking!!

 

[Finnlandr]

Interesting point! Im not a movie star but I watch alot of those sled vid's. I must say that some time you do see them, some times you don't see them wear packs. IMO after watching one today, that when some of them are riding in the trees like CB does alot of in his movies. The Avy danger is very very low, or there is no danger at all. In the movies that they are climbing big chutes in the spring the don't have them on, because the avy danger is very very low,or none at all. I do see, the top riders wear them in diffrent times, as the snow changes in the movie, Must be that the avy danger is high. I understand that they are roll models for young riders. But when riding in the backcountry, you must use common since.
If the avy danger is high in my area, we don't go to the big country, we stay in the trees where it is safer. I'm sure the top riders are no diffrent.

Just talking!!

^^^ Good points

 

[GDG]

Yes, good points I agree, and I am the same way. Just saying though, not all riders in the films are like this. Alot of the ones(that I've seen anyway) are in extreme conditions doing extreme stuff without a pack with proper gear. I don't mean to be "nit-picky" but like I said, there are alot of people that watch this and 'learn' from what they're seeing.

In a perfect world everyone would know better that in extreme conditions you always wear your avalanche gear and know how to use it, but the bottom line is there is people watching and doing as the people in the films do. MONKEY SEE>MONKEY DO. You wear a pack for the safety of your friends' life in the backcountry, if everyone wore the proper equipment in ALL conditions instead of just when they THINK the conditions were safe enough, there would be alot less avy deaths. Nobody is perfect, but you'd think these so called 'professionals' would ALL step up and be good roll models. Just my .02, flame away if felt needed...

 

[up-high]

Just because they're in a video doesn't mean they are "professionals".

 

[PJ-Hunter]

You also see them attacking steep hills multiple sleds at the same time. Sled vids are to watch, not emulate because you will die.

You see the avy packs in the parking lot, but not on the hill. But, if you watch certain riders, their pack stays on. Matt Entz wears his all of the time and last season Adams wore a avy vest.

 

[Bkinz]

I know when being with Filmers and "professionals" we stay off the big stuff when avy danger is high. Granted most of the riding done is tree riding too. I know when the big pulls are being made the rider is wearing a avybag.
Those who dont probably don't have the $800 to spend on a backpack, is it worth it? Heck yes, but some don't take the time to think about it.

Just be smart folks,
Kinzer

P.S. Pray for snow!

 

[GDG]

Glad to hear, all of you. I guess I just get pissed off sometimes from some of the people I come across riding with not wanting to wear the gear in the sometimes dangerous conditions, and using the "pros in the movies" as an excuse. I like to be on the safe side, and the ignorance of some people kills me, especially when our youth of the sport gets ignorant. Just thought this would be an interesting topic to bring to people's attention.

Cheers, and pray for more snow! This high pressure bullchit in the northwest is killing me.

GDG

 

[Powderhound]

Two years ago my buddy was buried on a hill that was blistered with trees that we have never seen slide before. Any hill can slide at any time !! Wear your pack. I will never ride ever without mine.

 

[RidewithChrisBrown]

You're right...it is really discouraging to not see packs on most of the riders in films...we should be role models for the snowmobile community. I ride with a Snowpulse everyday but I hope I never have to pull it...if I do it's because I made a mistake.

I've seen Avalanches on slope angles as low as 18 degrees and I have seen a lot of avys in trees including one that I dug Chris Burandt out of a few years ago. He was lucky his face was exposed when the avy stopped (in the trees) or he probably wouldn't be here right now. His batteries were dead in his tranceiver. Back then I didn't check everyone's tranceiver...do I now? You betcha..before Every ride in the parking lot!

You are correct, every backcountry user needs to wear a pack with a probe and shovel in the pack...nowhere else. Hopefully the word will start spreading and hopefully some of the other guys in the movies will get some avy training. I know Dan Adams has quite a bit of training and I have close to 160 hours.

Please be safe and ride smart this season...Revy has a recently buried 10cm surface hoar layer right now that could get real ugly when the snow starts falling again. Oh yeah...have fun too!

Chris http://www.ridewithchrisbrown.com/snowmobile-riding-clinics.shtml

 

[LAMBOFGOD]

drives me nuts when people assume because its the spring the avy danger is low, its always the same ol song and dance in the spring. low possibility high consiquence scenerio.
chances are your not gonna rip one out, but if you do that SOB is gonna be fast, wet, and VERY destructive. and thinking your safe in the trees is just about as dumb IMO. seen some mighty big trees up rooted and busted into multiple pieces from slides. even if it isnt big enough to break the trees, they act kinda like a phone pole when a car crashes into them.....ripping limbs off, causing blunt force trauma, all that fun stuff.......
if im riding with someone who says they do it cause they seen it in the movies, im gonna point my sled towards home ASAP and wont be calling him again.

 

[phatty]

Reasons:
1- i have 60lbs of camera equipment, tripods, survival gear to pack around. Simply doesnt fit in the Air bags.
2- I prefer not to unload an entire backpack and put it on empty when dropping large cliffs. The weight on landing from a loaded pack can do damage to the neck, shoulders, back, and knees. Most times we set up for a shot it involves unloading all the gear from the backpack so no reason to put the pack back on (especially when the pack is not an Air bag)
3- Access into and storage on the Air bag packs are poorly designed.


That said here is my approach to Avy danger:
1- Check the report every morning.
2- Know our snow (Avy forcast is nice, but knowing our snowpack is better)
3- Stay away from prime slide areas.
4- beacon checks, and all equipment in hands of bystanders ready to go just in case.
5- never park in slide zones
6- when in doubt, leave it alone. Learn to say no.

Im not justifying why one should or should not wear one. i am ultimatly responsible for my actions and my choices. I dont think anyone should ever base their choices solely on what they see in a movie. I believe all people should wear one. Is not wearing one myself hypocritical? Yes i suppose, but for the record, i Do own and occasionally wear an ABS 15. When i retire from "professional" riding I will wear one every where i go.

 

[suitcase]

We as backcountry riders seem to be learning the hard way. Everyone is slowly learning that a pack is a must these days. We are all coming around.
You said it phatty we are all responsible for our own actions. Land of the free home of the brave!!

Everyone be safe in the Mts. this yr.

 

[RidewithChrisBrown]

I don't think the topic was specifying air bag packs...just packs with shovel and probe (which IS where they belong). I know quite a few riders that people look to as rolde models and/or "professionals" that do not wear a pack with their probe and shovel in it. Somedy they will learn...

EVERYONE needs to wear a tranceiver (3 antennae is best) and a pack containing a probe and shovel. EVeRYONE needs to know how to use them quickly and efficiently as a bare minimum.

I will be teaching AST1 classes in BC this year. The AST1 is a 2 day course that goes over reading terrain, analyzing the snowpack and tranceiver search and recovery techniques.

It doesn't matter if you ride one day a year in the mountains or 150...you are exposing yourself to the potential of an avalanche occurring. Please become aware...your family and friends will appreciate it.

Chris

 

[GDG]

Sorry guys, I should have been more clear. I wasn't specifying on airbags at all, I don't even have one. I personally(my own opinion) don't like the idea of the airbags because the usual places I ride, there's rocks, trees, other obstacles that I think the airbags alone will float you down into(like I said, my opinion).

I was just simply wondering why everyone doesn't wear a light pack with things as simple as a shovel and probe, and maybe some other key survival gear.

My point:

If you are riding without a pack with the proper simple avy gear said above^^, and you accidentally trip an avalanche on your riding buddies.....now what??? Even if you come across people on the mountain that has a fellow rider buried, wouldn't you want to have the proper gear to help save them? Accidents happen, No matter what conditions, or your riding areas, an avalanche could happen. A 5-10lb pack strapped to your back could save the life of someone in the backcountry. Better safe than sorry.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

If I wear a pack it really gets to me, something to do with the straps coming over my shoulders and cutting circulation and in a few hrs it will cause migrains etc.. Most prob due to my traps(muscle) that go from shoulder to neck, everything just tries to slide off so I have to tighten it together. I can't even where a protective (hard style) vest as it all sits right at my neck and there is a huge gap where it should sit on my shoulders. Even though this year I plan on getting a air bag that will work, and times I where a pack. But most of the time I strap it to the sled, I figure play safe and stay out of harms way as best possible, and to go at hills one at a time or at least have someone in a safe zone, if I get caught in one its most likely I wont need mine anyway, but always have it in the back of my head. I have also been pulled off sled from tree branches catching the pack and in tight trees with what I call safe slopes I leave it with the others.
Pretty much just play it smart and safe, abp