Thumbs Up for ABS

[tundra twin track]

Got caught in a 2.5 avy last spring, dropped into bowl on NW aspect was down about 100' when entire slope turned to cottage cheese.Pulled the bag and hammered the throttle ,hit 3' wave got knocked impacting my sled come to in front of the slide with legs sucked under and the wall of the slide pushing on the bags but would not engulf me.First big slide in 22 years riding
the high country.
Have a save winter!

 

[snowww1]

Would you give us a better description of what happened after you deployed the pack and hit the throttle? Thanks

 

[tundra twin track]

Wildride

The slope I was on had not had a mark all winter,when the slope released kept a tight grip on the bars with left hand , pulled the bag with the other.Was confident with speed that I could ride down it to the bottom,but 100' down slope ,3' wave boiled up in like 1 sec. it appeared that quick.Was full throttle at this point when I impacted the wave got my face slammed into the bars and blacked out.My partners up on the ridge said me and the sled flew 30' down the slope when at that point I was thrown in front of the slide and the sled blew right threw every thing and ended up upright down on flat terrain.When I come to, my legs were sucked under the slide.The wall of the toe of slide pushed on the bags and pushed me down the slope till it stops,it felt like it was pulling my bibs off.At that point 2 guys on the ridge were going to drop over to help me,one fellow told every body not to move as they could see the orange bags 1000' below and could see I was not buried.I was able to free myself got on my sled climbed out where it had already slid and joined my partners up on the ridge, the slide was 900'wide and ran for 800'.Had some sore spots mainly a banged up foot, one thing with the visabilty of the bags that kept my partners up on the ridge.That was my 4th winter wearing the ABS freeride and my advice to anybody wearing a airbag if you think your in trouble pull it,then try to ride out of it.I hope more sledders will start wearing airbags, when your buried you have just put your life in your riding partners hands. Have a save winter!

 

[Pastor]

Good Post!!

I have a beacon but have not yet purchased an airbag system.

I am planning on it for this season.

Glad everything turned out so well for you.

 

[Bighairybeast]

Nice to hear first hand stories of these packs working! $1300 was a big investment.
You mentioned taking your right hand off to deploy the airbag. I'm sure the bag comes this way as it was developed in the ski industry and most people are right handed. But in my opinion when sledding I'd rather stay on the throttle whether going up or down if a slide started. So for this season I'm going to mount the handle on the other side.

Did you ever test this pack in the 4 yrs you had it other than the initial test canister? It's kind of scary just hoping this bag deploys after being out in the elements, poked by branches, and landed on in crashes. This is my second year with the pack and I will do a visual inspection this year and probably pull the handle next year to actually test it. It would be nice if there was a cheaper way to test the pack but I guess we all have to pay to play.

Hopefully none of us have to pull the handle this year, but if we do there will be more success stories posted.

 

[tundra twin track]

Airbag Check

Blow the bag at the start of every season I've spent 100 bucks a lot worst ways ,for what mountain riding costs, I don't think the 100 dollars should keep your hand from pulling the bag.When we first got the airbags their were some comments if that was a 100 dollar avy or was just a small slide.Very good point on which side to have the trigger , going up you would want to keep your hand on the throttle.Have a save winter.

 

[Blu Du]

i have a couple of questions for a ttt. i'am gonna order my bag in a week or so. do you feel the bag saved your life. how deep do you estimate the snow was piled up at the bottom

 

[tundra twin track]

Not Buried

I can't tell you whether the bag saved my life in this incident or not,the one thing I know is that it kept me from being buried.The one thing that the airbag does that no other safety gear can, it gives you chance to save yourself.Another huge factor in this incident was my partner on the ridge who kept everybody on the ridge and not putting them in harms way,me staying on the surface and the orange bags allowed that to happen.After I joined my partners on ridge my bags were repacked and we headed out ,still had 20 miles of avy terrain to travel through felt buck naked without charged pack.Will be keeping spare cannister in group from now on.The deposit was 3 to 4 feet deep,according to WARI a third pack is coming Avi-Vest.I don't think mountian riders would want to go back riding 121 tracks with 1/2 lugs like in the mid 80's,it will be 2009 in a month ,so which ever pack you choose do it for yourself and your riding partner's.Have a save winter!

 

[Lan_ermk]

[After I joined my partners on ridge my bags were repacked and we headed out ,still had 20 miles of avy terrain to travel through felt buck naked without charged pack.Will be keeping spare cannister in group from now on.[/QUOTE]

thannks for posting your experience Tundra. one of the benefits I heard of the newer ABS is that the newer bags will hold air for a lot longer time. you might feel like a tool, but riding out of that avy terrain would be safer with the airbags still full flapping behind you. something I dont understand, why we care about breathable air if we are likely on/near the surface with our airbags(either kind). as a snowmobiler, I want to drain the bags when I feel safe.

 

[wide_open]

I picked up my ABS Escape 15 today and hopefully never have to use it. I was glad to read your recommendation to pull it then give it throttle, because if I am ever in the position I think it will be good information.

I was also surprised how easily the bag folds back together. I am ordering another cartridge just so that I always have one. Many of the people in my group are getting one this year, but hopefully we won't have to use them!

 

[SnowBigDeal]

felt buck naked without charged pack.

I agree. I don't feel comfortable without wearing my pack, feel completely naked.

 

[Elevation]

They work have seen one in action.

 

[tundra twin track]

Inflated Bags

Every time I blew the pack the bags stayed inflated for at least 24 hrs.Lan_ermk comment on riding with the bags inflated is a no brainer,would have no problem looking like a tool!

 

[akstormin]

Tundratt, great story and thanks for sharing. Hopefully your experience will help save some others by convincing them to buy a pack. The event you described about hitting the 3' ft wave that effectively knocked you out and separated you from your sled is one of the biggest problems we have as snowmobilers trying to outrun an avy. That wave is caused by all the sliding snow going over the 'bottom edge', for lack of a better term, of the slab. There is a great video floating around of one of the Thunderstruck riders doing the exact same thing, with similar results. No bag for him though, his buddies had to dig him out. You have so much speed from your throttle, downhill, and the avy coming down that when you hit the bottom fracture line its a pretty violent event. I bet your pack doesn't seem so expensive now!! Really glad you're still here to tell the story. Have a great winter.

 

[mobsled]

I felt pretty safe now that I have a beacon..... After reading this, not so much????? I am thinking I should get a pack now that I am married and have a bit more o come home to!!!!! Is there different brands better/worse ones to get? Do they have storage to store shovel, saw, a little bit of lunch like my non airbag pack has now or should I plan on investing in a tunnel pack for that?

 

[arctic matt]

now I know what I'm going to spend my tax refund on this year. Great post!

 

[tundra twin track]

All Bags Float

The debate on which Avy Pack is the best is like trying to figure out who builds the best transceiver.I think you could wear a inflated truck tube and would stop you from being buried.The ABS Freeride I wear stores a shovel & probe externally with no storage.ABS and SNOWPULSE both offer packs with lots of storage , in the years to come we may see as many brands of packs as we currently have brands of transceivers.

Have a safe winter!

 

[cpatts2000]

Great post, excellent to hear real life stories. Just a reminder that there is still no substitute for training and knowing terrain that could cause a slide. I ride with an abs pack in case the unforeseen happens, but have learned so much by taking avy classes and training with my equipment (avy reports are a snowmobilers best friend, they are very specific too riding areas). Don't rely on a bag to save your life. There are getting to be more snowmobile specific avy classes all over, and if there is not one, take a skier avy class. I personally lost a best friend 2 years ago so I am very passionate about this subject, not trying to start an argument, I just don't want anyone else to lose a friend and riding partner. I am in WA and know where most of the avy classes are held in the state and the numbers for contact. PM me if anyone needs some info

 

[BottomFeeder m7.]

Got in a avy yesterday . Class 2. about a 500 ft run out by 600 ft wide. 2 ft crack at the top. abs was pushing me towards the top the whole time. Thanks ABS.

 

[brokenbones4]

thats great to hear! any damage to the machine? i just bought an abs pack two days ago so its great to hear success story's