shovel and probe placement on an abs escape 15

[TIM]

I did a search and looked back thru different threads. I did not find what i was looking for.

How are you folks attatching the shovel and probe to the abs 15 escape. Are you hooking them to the outside of the pack with the cord that clips in 2 places on top?

Also anyone else having problems with the trigger release cord not being long enough. I am not a little guy.

thanks
tim

 

[500 CID]

Curious about this myself as I am in the market for an ABS pack now, some pics would be nice before I pull the trigger on a $1000 pack.

 

[DTR]

I did a search and looked back thru different threads. I did not find what i was looking for.

How are you folks attatching the shovel and probe to the abs 15 escape. Are you hooking them to the outside of the pack with the cord that clips in 2 places on top?

Also anyone else having problems with the trigger release cord not being long enough. I am not a little guy.

thanks
tim

Here's what we did (I hope you can see in the pics below):

Using the black strap that attaches to the plastic buckles at the top of the pack, cut off a section from each end.

With the cut ends, burn the cut (and/or sew it) to keep from unraveling

Rivit one to your shovel handle.

Rivit the other to your shovel blade.

Put both the blade and the handle on the pack, and Use the cinch-straps to help secure them.

The pictures will hopfully explain better!

 

[AvalancheSafetyDude]

The pack is designed to store the shovel blade on the outside and the shaft and probe inside. Unless you have a Deploy shovel (or similar) and you can store the entire shovel on the outside. Here are pictures showing how the shovel mounts on the outside. One picture shows how the shovel scoop alone mounts, and the other shows how the entire shovel mounts (Deploy shovel).

Let me know if you want to see any other pictures and I can send some.

Brian

 

[TIM]

the scoop part is easy. My probes and shovel handle are too long to fit in the pack. I guess i should look for some shorter probes. I ahve always like the longer probe.

Case in point a few years ago, i was able to probe a buried sled but my buddies probes didn't hit the sled. They where to short.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully i can get used to the activation handle in my face. I guess this is why you don't order off of the internet. I didn't try the pack on before buying it. my bad there.

 

[Blu Du]

i keep my sos shovel in my abs 15

 

[bxtreme4life]

If your smart, you will keep your shovel and probe in your Back pack.

 

[cowboysedge]

the scoop part is easy. My probes and shovel handle are too long to fit in the pack. I guess i should look for some shorter probes. I ahve always like the longer probe.

Case in point a few years ago, i was able to probe a buried sled but my buddies probes didn't hit the sled. They where to short.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully i can get used to the activation handle in my face. I guess this is why you don't order off of the internet. I didn't try the pack on before buying it. my bad there.

Yes, keep the longer probe. You don't want to be on your hands and knees tring to probe for somebody.

We keep the scoop outside and every thing else inside the pack on the 15 and everything inside the pack on the 30.

 

[TIM]

thanks for the info everyone. I am discovering that this is a great avalanche tool, but definalty has alot of improvment to go as far as a back pack goes.

tim

 

[steve8]

Escape 15

Hey, well i just got one and was looking for this thread and couldnt find it. i just mounted my shovel handle and probe on the inside and the scoop on the outside with the two straps. you can crash and it doesnt fall out(have tried numerous times). The only problem i have is the shovel handle is a little long. Going to look at maybe cutting it down a half inch or so. One other thing that sucks is everytime you want into your bag, you have to remove the shoop. Wonder if anyone has tried sewing some straps to the outside like say klim backpack or something. good luck. steve

 

[skibreeze]

Hey, well i just got one and was looking for this thread and couldnt find it. i just mounted my shovel handle and probe on the inside and the scoop on the outside with the two straps. you can crash and it doesnt fall out(have tried numerous times). The only problem i have is the shovel handle is a little long. Going to look at maybe cutting it down a half inch or so. One other thing that sucks is everytime you want into your bag, you have to remove the shoop. Wonder if anyone has tried sewing some straps to the outside like say klim backpack or something. good luck. steve

I have a 30L and just leave the handle on the shovel.

 

[stevegriffith22]

There is only one place to keep your shovel and probe: IN YOUR PACK! Not on your pack, but in your pack. If you get caught in a slide anything on the out side of you pack can get ripped off, then your no good to anyone! Even if you get out of the slide, but you buddy is in it, you don't have any gear. As well, there is only one place for a beacon and thats between your base layer and your next layer. They don't belong in your pack, on the outside of your shell but up against the body. Thats the bottom line! It helps if you practice with you beacon too.

 

[Boston Racing]

IMO "on" your pack is fine. If Skibreeze gets caught up in a slide he isnt going to dig himself out I am going to dig him out. Now if we are both involved we both screwed up.....only one person in the danger area, everybody else should be watching from a safe zone. The reason you ride with people you trust is because in an avalanche situation you are helpless. I have ridden with Skibreeze and have never seen his shovel just fall off.

 

[enis750]

i shove my handle behind the blade on the outside
i actually bought the ABS 15L and Brian helped convince me, because of the way the shovel mounts
when i put the handle behind the blade, i just wrap the top black buckle around it a couple times

it doesnt move an inch like this
and i keep my probe inside the pack

if you tuck the blade in LIKE Brian posted (avalanche saftey dude) everything stays 100% secure

i love this pack, but i am still getting used to the weight loaded up
its friggen heavy man - but what do you do???
i keep everything on me and zero on the sled, so thats probably why

 

[TIM]

I will take a pic this weekend of how i got it set up.

I do agree that everythng should be inside the pack. But this pack does not allow full size avy gear to fit inside thepack.

there is a version in canada that you can't get in the us. that size is the 22l. I wonder if that would be big enough but still be a manageble pack.

thanks
tim

 

[DAKOTAKIDD]

I have a 30l and I have it all in the pack, Still lot of room for more gear. I also believe that it belongs in the pack.

Cheers

 

[frntflp]

I ride with an Escape 15. Shovel and probe in the pack. (2nd probe and shovel on the back of the sled, more on that later)

The only shovel that fit inside the way I wanted was a Black Diamond. Not sure the model, but blue blade and silver shovel shaft, black handle. I looked at many shovels, but didn't want one so big that the blade could interfere with the mechanics of the valves on the air bags.

Black Diamond 3 meter aluminum probe fits inside as well.

I do not want any of these outside the pack. If I get separated from my sled, I want to make sure that I have gear to survive, inside with other survival gear.

As mentioned above, I carry a second shovel and probe on the back of the sled. I use these when digging out and for initial search. If I have to take off my pack to get a shovel, it is useless, especially if I am at risk of getting caught in a slide (stuck on the side of the hill) or barried by hang fire - if I didn't see it and stay away from a rescue situation in the first place (and put myself in danger along with someone that is burried). In addition, I can always give xtra the probe and shovel to someone that passes by to help. My pack never leaves my back until I'm off the mountain.

I was caught in a slide 4 years ago. I can tell you it's like getting tossed around in a big cloths dryer. You don't have any clue which way is up. Maybe you will see light for a brief moment or two. If you hit anything, (I didn't, fortuantely) it will be all you can do to hang on to what is on your back. These packs have leg straps and waist strap for a reason. A regular pack won't stay with you.

In the end, I want everything inside the pack. And make sure the pack will stay on my back. I encourage everyone else to do the same so that you too can live to ride again another day.

 

[m1ke]

If your smart, you will keep your shovel and probe in your Back pack.

So very true!

 

[TIM]

I agree everything should go in the pack. I guess i got to buy a 4th avalanche shovel. all my full size shovels just don't fit in the pack.
The shorter lenght shovels are fine if you are a short guy.

tim