Did any of them have ABS bags.

[Spur]

Do we know how many of are buddies killed in avalanches this season were wearing ABS bags, if any?

I'm not looking for trouble, pointing fingers, judging, or trying to give anyone false security.

It's a legitimate question worth asking. It's information I would really like to know.

 

[Transporter]

Good question.

 

[DARKO]

I know 1 did, but he did not pull the "trigger".

RCMP/Avy tech's tested it after and it worked/deployed fine.

No one will ever know the truth why it wasn't pulled, speculate away, panic, didn't see it coming, didn't realize he was in an Avy, got hit so fast and hard no time etc etc etc.

Regardless, they will increase your chance without a doubt and thats why i'll never ride without mine.

 

[treemongrol]

Abs bags are a great idea but the person wearing it has to teach themselves to make it an automatic reaction to deploy them. On average it takes the mind 21 times to make a reaction a habit where it becomes a learned reaction. Also panic can make the mind and body do funny things.

 

[Red-eye]

Good post. Two got deployed in Fernie, one early( he didn,t make it) and one guy was found with one deployed and hung up in the trees ( he didn't make it either).What ever happened so far they didn't seem to help. Makes me wounder. My question is, if the new design is deployed and does create an air space, if you are not found soon do you suffer an antagonising death. I wound rather die quick not freezing or suffering under 10 feet of snow.

 

[skibreeze]

Good post. Two got deployed in Fernie, one early( he didn,t make it) and one guy was found with one deployed and hung up in the trees ( he didn't make it either).What ever happened so far they didn't seem to help. Makes me wounder. My question is, if the new design is deployed and does create an air space, if you are not found soon do you suffer an antagonising death. I wound rather die quick not freezing or suffering under 10 feet of snow.

ABS will not save stupid or every person that uses it. 30% of avy victims are killed from trauma, this may be slightly lessened by keeping a person at the surface, but if you are getting plowed by car sized slabs, it's over no matter what. You state that a guy was hung up in trees, he had very little chance with or without an ABS.
Aside from following the forcasts, if guys aren't analyzing the slopes they climb, they are just stupid. They should be avoiding slopes that have runouts into treed areas, terrain traps, rocky areas, and slopes that don't give you escape routes. I also avoid the massive slopes, like the one Montana that was just posted. I have seen the results of a fatal avy, and I think about what I have learned over the years while climbing. If I do screw up and I am involved in another avy, I hope that my ABS will improve my chances. I know that it is not a guarantee.

 

[Red-eye]

Some good points. Just don't see, " I hope my ABS will improve my chances" a good enough arguement for air bags, I just see more people taking more risks be cause they have one. Maybe its because this year is so bad around here. I have seen more slides in a month than the last 5 years combined.

 

[skibreeze]

Some good points. Just don't see, " I hope my ABS will improve my chances" a good enough arguement for air bags, I just see more people taking more risks be cause they have one. Maybe its because this year is so bad around here. I have seen more slides in a month than the last 5 years combined.

Wearing beacons is accepted worldwide for improving survivability, why should an ABS system be any different? If people are taking greater risks just because it is strapped on their back, they are stupid.

 

[bluebear]

Wearing beacons is accepted worldwide for improving survivability, why should an ABS system be any different? If people are taking greater risks just because it is strapped on their back, they are stupid.

You have to wonder how many riders are taking those extra chances because they have an ABS bag.

[rant]
People need to think back to how they rode before they had any avy gear. Go out a day and just pretend you don't have it, get in the mindset that if any hill slides you will die, no exceptions. Hills should only slide when human error is involved. People riding on suspect hills, usually thinking that their risk is hedged because of their beacon or bag. This is the wrong way to think. I plan on going my entire life without having to use my beacon to save my life or anyone in my group's life. Am I missing out on some potential fun by skipping anything that looks like it could slide? Absolutely I am, but I'm willing to miss out on that knowing that I didn't neglect my responsibility to my friends and family to make it home safely.
[/rant]
Chris.

 

[WATTS UP TOYZ]

Watts Up Toyz

Its not that we think we are safer with the avalanche gear and ya think about when we did not have any safety gear we also didn't have tracks that are 163-174 long and no turbos that would get us to those bad spots we are doing it to ourselfs and don't wont to admit it we are all in it to get up the hill higher and faster. just my 2 cents. may good be with the ones we have lost r.i.p

 

[revpilot]

Abs bags are a great idea but the person wearing it has to teach themselves to make it an automatic reaction to deploy them. On average it takes the mind 21 times to make a reaction a habit where it becomes a learned reaction. Also panic can make the mind and body do funny things.

Good point, I think it would take a lot of practice to pull the handle if you were being chased down from behind by an avy. My instinct would be to pinch it, not let go of the bars to deploy my airbag. I'm a big proponent of safety gear but this is one of those years where knowledge of self is worth more than what you know about your gear. In other words it's better to be skittish enough to avoid the situation where you may need your superior skills to get out of it.

 

[noob]

Good post. Two got deployed in Fernie, one early( he didn,t make it) and one guy was found with one deployed and hung up in the trees ( he didn't make it either).What ever happened so far they didn't seem to help. Makes me wounder. My question is, if the new design is deployed and does create an air space, if you are not found soon do you suffer an antagonising death. I wound rather die quick not freezing or suffering under 10 feet of snow.

were the guys at the bottom of the runout when deployed? My understanding is that you have to be coming down with the slide for the bag to get you to the surface of the slide. If you at the bottom and it hits you it will bury you. Heard the gal from Zacs Tracs at the Calgary show mention this.

 

[BoonDockinSummit]

Abs bags are a great idea but the person wearing it has to teach themselves to make it an automatic reaction to deploy them. On average it takes the mind 21 times to make a reaction a habit where it becomes a learned reaction. Also panic can make the mind and body do funny things.

People practice using their beacons or they should be practicing using their beacons. How many people actually practice with their ABS to make it a natural reflex? I know people always say if you dont use it you lose it, the ability to have it as a natural reflex. I have thought about getting the ABS. One thing I wish that could be changed is the ability to be able to deploy it muliple times in a day, not that I ever want to get into an avalanche but to be able to practice to make it a reflex. Your mind does crazy things when its in panic mode. Hopfully practicing deploying makes it a natural reaction if the time ever comes of needing to pull the cord.

 

[Blu Du]

i road with mine for 4 days and i was alwys reaching for it to see and feel exactly where the handle was. also abs better update there statisics

 

[Bad Daddy]

Left hand or Right hand

i road with mine for 4 days and i was alwys reaching for it to see and feel exactly where the handle was. also abs better update there statisics

How many people have changed the handle to the right strap, so that the left hand is used to pull the trigger?
As a rider, you would not want to take your thumb off the throttle, especially if you are climbing and hit by a slide, or even trying to outrun it on the way down.

I know there is a kit available for it, I've ordered it from RGM.

 

[Blu Du]

also how many actually loosen the velcrow strap on the handle when they are riding. all the guys i was with kept it tight.

 

[cobbycat]

also how many actually loosen the velcrow strap on the handle when they are riding. all the guys i was with kept it tight.

be smart boys.........
if you don't loosen the strap it will not pull and you might as well leave it at home. having the gear won't do s*** if you don't use it right!

 

[Desperado]

Heres an idea for the ABS system, treat the pull cord like a teather hooked to your sled. Hook it up when you start playing in any avy terain if you get pitched or knocked off your sled from the avy it will automatically deploy. I know there may be instances where you simply fall off and the thing deploys but I'm trying to think of a way to get the thing deployed in an avy situation. Panic clouds the mind and it would be very easy to miss pulling the cord. My 2 cents...

 

[revpilot]

Heres an idea for the ABS system, treat the pull cord like a teather hooked to your sled. Hook it up when you start playing in any avy terain if you get pitched or knocked off your sled from the avy it will automatically deploy. I know there may be instances where you simply fall off and the thing deploys but I'm trying to think of a way to get the thing deployed in an avy situation. Panic clouds the mind and it would be very easy to miss pulling the cord. My 2 cents...

Then forget about it when you get off to pee and boom! You're out a $100 cartridge and a $7 pair of shorts with no avy bag for the rest of the day.

 

[tundra twin track]

Bottom of Slide

were the guys at the bottom of the runout when deployed? My understanding is that you have to be coming down with the slide for the bag to get you to the surface of the slide. If you at the bottom and it hits you it will bury you. Heard the gal from Zacs Tracs at the Calgary show mention this.

The slide I was in I was thrown in front of the slide with my legs sucked under,the my upper body was pushing fresh powder in front of me and the toe of the slide pushed on the bags.The velcro strap has to be LOOSE,if you snug it up tight you cannot pull the trigger far enough.Practice and keeping a mindset on deploying the pack gives you a chance.EXAMPLE:when playing ball and line drive comes at your face your glove automatically goes up!

Have a safe WINTER!