M
MVR
Well-known member
What beacon should I get? It's a good question and no doubt all of the beacon manufacturers are putting out fine products these days. It's been said before but the best beacon is the one you are the most practiced with. Possibly the one you developed your skills with.
Practice doesn't mean using it (searching with it) once a season. Practicing means doing searches at least every couple of weeks if not more. Studies show that snow professionals (those who do practice searches daily) are exponentially faster than average recreationalists in a beacon search. This is because they have more knowledge and experience from practice (obviously).
Without practice we will be mediocre at best. Average. Personally, I don't want my riding partners to be average beacon searchers. If I were to be buried while riding with average partners, statistically, I would not expect to be uncovered in time to survive.
On that note, it is also important to remember that 1 in 3 avalanche victims are killed by trauma. Some might say that it's impossible to survive an avalanche, some victims get lucky and survive. My point is that just having savvy partners (fast searchers) won't save you every time.
So along with knowledge on the use of beacons, it is also imperative that we have knowledge of how to keep from becoming a victim of an avalanche.
Beacon, Probe, and shovel are the minimum rescue equipment...not safety equipment. The only safety equipment we have for avalanche accident prevention is between our ears and we need to train it, develop it, and practice with it.
Ride safe out there.
Practice doesn't mean using it (searching with it) once a season. Practicing means doing searches at least every couple of weeks if not more. Studies show that snow professionals (those who do practice searches daily) are exponentially faster than average recreationalists in a beacon search. This is because they have more knowledge and experience from practice (obviously).
Without practice we will be mediocre at best. Average. Personally, I don't want my riding partners to be average beacon searchers. If I were to be buried while riding with average partners, statistically, I would not expect to be uncovered in time to survive.
On that note, it is also important to remember that 1 in 3 avalanche victims are killed by trauma. Some might say that it's impossible to survive an avalanche, some victims get lucky and survive. My point is that just having savvy partners (fast searchers) won't save you every time.
So along with knowledge on the use of beacons, it is also imperative that we have knowledge of how to keep from becoming a victim of an avalanche.
Beacon, Probe, and shovel are the minimum rescue equipment...not safety equipment. The only safety equipment we have for avalanche accident prevention is between our ears and we need to train it, develop it, and practice with it.
Ride safe out there.
