What are you doing to prepare for this season?

[CatWoman]

I'm curious as to what everyone is doing to get ready for the season (pertaining to Avalanche and Survival)?

Taking a refresher Avy course, or maybe a first time class?
Any First Aid, backcountry safety/survival classes?
Getting new equipment?
Practicing with equipment?
Checking equipment for any defects/problems?
Looking at your backpack and what's going in it?

Share with us what you do to prepare for the upcoming riding season.

 

[PassRev]

Taking a CPR/emergency first aid.
Review and inspection of all emergency gear, beacon, shovel and probe.
Beacon practice sessions as soon as the snow starts falling.

 

[fasta76]

Just bought my first ABS bag!! New beacon,Probe,shovel. And taking my Avy course in 2 weeks... Then let it snow.
I already have my first-aid ticket and survival course. Going to go through my First-aid kit and over night survival kit!

 

[john800]

I am just getting into riding in the mountains
I will be putting together the basic overnight survival stuff, I bought a pack and will be buying a probe beacon and shovel, and taking an avy class.
I also bought a gps to hopefully aviod the overnighter in the first place LOL

 

[skibreeze]

I took an avy class, my first formal class. I have had lots of avy exp. and done lots of reading on the subject. The class did confirm alot of what I already knew but also learned a few things that I was doing wrong.
I already have an ABS but will be considering a new beacon as mine are a few years old. Also picking up some emergency supplies for the "extended" stays.

 

[puckered]

Update my Pieps DSP to the latest firmware version; bought a Float 30. I have taken the 3 day ski patrol avy course in JH, might look for a refresher. Will check my riding partners on their beacon proficiency. Will update first aid and overnight kit.

 

[sledmanhof]

will be taking a second avy course while getting my riding crew to go to it for the first time...looking at getting a float 30....might get the new tracker 2

 

[Ex-Member]

Picked up a Snowpulse pack and took Duffy's course at the snow show a few weeks ago.

Will be pullin all the stuff outta my dirt pack and getting the snowpulse pack figured out in the next few weeks. Some things I kept in my pack last year will be going on the I ordered to put on the tunnel (when it comes in).

Hope to get to the hands-on beacon/avy course this year, past two years i've had to work those days

 

[jpxp154]

getting a beacon forsure and a probe this year and upgrading to new riding gear and equipment. and getting ready for another great season.

 

[SnowXTC]

It was tough, but I finally did it. Not sure why buying the BCA Float 30 was difficult. I guess it was admitting that I ride where this could happen, ok, where this does happen. I started with the shovels and probes, then added 3 beacons, then the Tek-vest, then the GPS, last year it was the Spot (which is absolutely beyond awesome), and this year it is the BCA Float 30. Ok, the $499 price tag is a real incentive since it is just over half of the ABS. I had a chance to wear it and deploy it and I was very impressed. Placed my order with Rick at Snobunje right then and there.

Some places are offering package deals: Float Pack, Shovel, Probe, and Beacon for like $800 or $900. Awesome deal.

 

[KFD070]

Purchased a set of BCA Tracker beacons. Need to buy the wife a probe yet. Looking at buying a Spot2. A couple of friends and myself are looking at times and convenient locations to take an avy course. Hopefully spending a bunch of money on stuff that I will never need.

 

[smokindave]

I have set up a class for 20 people to take their AST1 avy coarse.I will also be organising more classes through out the season.Not for profit just for peace of mind,as last years tragities are still fresh on my mind.
I have done a check on my beacon and replaced with new batteries,ordered an ABS back pack.
Tested my satelite phone and am in the midst of ordering a new Garmin Rino 530 having lost my last one last season.
I have also visited the local area sled shops and laid guilt trip on them for not supplying the appropriate saftety avy gear that should come with every sled including AST 1 coarse.I for one would support a shop that was looking out for mine and my families well being before profit.
My hats off too Western Canada Yamaha dealers that include with new mountain sled purchace a BCA avy backpack,shovel,beacon and probe.
I believe it is about time the manufacturers take some responsibility as they are providing us with sleds that go places never dreamed about ten years ago in stead of making us sign a waiver before you take possession.

Please to all ride safe and smart this sledding season,lets break a record for no loss of life for a change.


Cheers,
Dave

 

[cowboysedge]

I have taken 2 avalanche classes this year so far, one from Mike Duffy and one from the Idaho parks and rec. I have also signed up for another class in Jan.

My friends and I also emailed the Idaho parks and rec requesting a class in our area. All the effort payed off because they added our area to there class this year.

One of the most important things I have learned from the avy classes I have attended is that everyone you ride with needs to take an avalanche awareness class. That way you all understand the dangers and work as a group when making decisions. Most of the instructors will tell you that they only ride with people who are trained in avalanche awareness.

I also purchased 2 ABS packs, one for my wife and one for myself. Updated shovels so we can keep one in the ABS pack and one on each sled. That way the ABS pack never has to be taken off to get a shovel out.

I am trying to get our beacons updated with new ones. Also planning lots of group beacon searches with the people we ride with.

Also going through my back pack and adding a few thing to carry in the Escape 30!

 

[ripsass]

Got a group buy for myself and four friends on ABS packs.

Got a new DTS Tracker and will be practicing with it, and testing my friends.
Plan to take an avy class this year as well.

Setting up a separate back pack for back country riding (where there is little to no avy terrain) full of proper survival, rescue, and medical gear.

Have GPS, probes, shovel, beacon, limb saw, and lot's of really neat survival gear. And always tools, plugs and belt.

Found something really cool recently called Quik-Klot. They are small, light packets that contain a bandage which is impregnated with a very effective blood clotting agent.
Each package is smaller than a pack of cigarettes and weighs about the same.
Could be very handy if needed, check them out here:http://www.quikclot.com/?ctt_id=2951015&ctt_adnw=Google&ctt_kw=quik%20clot&ctt_ch=ps&ctt_entity=tc&ctt_adid=3015778684&ctt_nwtype=search&ctt_cli=1^10113^30008^788301&_kk=quik%20clot&_kt=b641b38a-ef38-465f-b42f-9ebb723333c4

 

[80arrow]

Half of my group I ride out west with have beacons and are going to take an avy class on Dec. 2 in Bemidji, MN. We are trying to get the rest of the guys to go and to also buy beacons. I know alot of you say not to ride with these guys who don't have beacons, but that's not going to happen. It's something we're working on. Hope everyone has a safe year, Clint

 

[EagleRiverDee]

I just bought 2 Pieps DSP beacons with the 300mm Black Diamond Guide probes for myself and my sweetie from Snowbigdeal. I saw that the Alaska Avalanche School has classes set up for end of January and am seeing if we can get into the class. I took a class about 11 years ago and a refresher is definitely in order.