Here is a blog post I came across by Mike Duffy, he talks about what should be in your backpack vs your sled tunnel bag:
What should be in you backpack!
What should be in you backpack!
What to Carry in your Avy Bag by Mike Duffy
- Thread starter FirstPlaceParts
- Start date
Backcountry Gear
January 9, 2017
Backpack or tunnel bag? Proper snowmobile gear placement for mountain riding
By BCA sled ambassador Mike Duffy
The evolution of avalanche gear has necessitated many changes in gear placement when snowmobiling. With the advent of protective airbag vests, a tunnel bag is now a must-have. But what snowmobile gear do you put in each one?
Not too long ago, we were trying to get the word out not to put your probe and shovel in your tunnel bag or under the hood of the sled. That gear was to be carried in a backpack. The reasoning was that if you got separated from the sled–or the sled was buried–you could still perform an effective rescue and had the gear with you to survive the night out. We were pushing for all your gear to be in a backpack.
The first BCA avalanche airbag pack was the Float 30, and it had the room to carry everything. The thinking on airbags was that you now needed to carry two shovels when sledding: one in the pack and one in (or on) the tunnel bag. You certainly don’t want to take off the airbag pack if you’re stuck on or below avalanche terrain, as you would lose the protection the airbag offers. Not having to take off the airbag pack to access the shovel is an important safety concern, but we still want to carry a shovel in the airbag pack in case we’re separated from the sled.
Once you try a pack that’s smaller and lighter than the original Float 30, you realize how much easier riding is, especially in technical terrain. Having less weight on your back makes a huge difference in comfort and rider performance. Many riders prefer the lighter Float 8, Float 22, Float 25 Turbo and the Float MtnPro Vest. I use the Float MtnPro vest due to comfort, protection, ease of transceiver access and the lightweight, but where do I put all the gear I used to carry in one big pack?
I split my gear between the airbag pack and my tunnel bag. The avalanche, survival and first aid essentials should be in the pack and the rest should be in the tunnel bag. Here are my suggestions. Note that some gear should be transferred to the pack in extreme weather conditions.
Avalanche Airbag pack contents:
MtnPro Tunnel Bag contents:
Check out the BCA MtnPro Collection here.
Mike Duffy teaches snowmobile backcountry skills classes and avalanche safety courses in the U.S. and Canada, like this one (above) in Silverton, CO. Find a class near you at Avalanche1.
January 9, 2017
Backpack or tunnel bag? Proper snowmobile gear placement for mountain riding
By BCA sled ambassador Mike Duffy
The evolution of avalanche gear has necessitated many changes in gear placement when snowmobiling. With the advent of protective airbag vests, a tunnel bag is now a must-have. But what snowmobile gear do you put in each one?
Not too long ago, we were trying to get the word out not to put your probe and shovel in your tunnel bag or under the hood of the sled. That gear was to be carried in a backpack. The reasoning was that if you got separated from the sled–or the sled was buried–you could still perform an effective rescue and had the gear with you to survive the night out. We were pushing for all your gear to be in a backpack.
The first BCA avalanche airbag pack was the Float 30, and it had the room to carry everything. The thinking on airbags was that you now needed to carry two shovels when sledding: one in the pack and one in (or on) the tunnel bag. You certainly don’t want to take off the airbag pack if you’re stuck on or below avalanche terrain, as you would lose the protection the airbag offers. Not having to take off the airbag pack to access the shovel is an important safety concern, but we still want to carry a shovel in the airbag pack in case we’re separated from the sled.
Once you try a pack that’s smaller and lighter than the original Float 30, you realize how much easier riding is, especially in technical terrain. Having less weight on your back makes a huge difference in comfort and rider performance. Many riders prefer the lighter Float 8, Float 22, Float 25 Turbo and the Float MtnPro Vest. I use the Float MtnPro vest due to comfort, protection, ease of transceiver access and the lightweight, but where do I put all the gear I used to carry in one big pack?
I split my gear between the airbag pack and my tunnel bag. The avalanche, survival and first aid essentials should be in the pack and the rest should be in the tunnel bag. Here are my suggestions. Note that some gear should be transferred to the pack in extreme weather conditions.
Avalanche Airbag pack contents:
- First aid kit.
- Bivy sack.
- Survival kit which includes fire starters.
- Headlamp.
- Avalanche probe.
- Avalanche Shovel.
- Two-way radio.
- GPS satellite messenger.
- Spare batteries.
- Knife.
- Energy bars and small water bottle.
- Map and compass/GPS.
MtnPro Tunnel Bag contents:
- Extra goggles.
- Extra gloves.
- Extra layers.
- Saw.
- Tow system.
- Second shovel (hoe mode preferred for digging out sleds).
- Tools.
- Duct tape.
- Extra food and water.
Check out the BCA MtnPro Collection here.
Mike Duffy teaches snowmobile backcountry skills classes and avalanche safety courses in the U.S. and Canada, like this one (above) in Silverton, CO. Find a class near you at Avalanche1.
Christopher, what do you think about carrying a few small safety flares? They do make good fire starters along with a distress signal. I carry water proof matches along with a fat candle. If you have to dig a snow fort the candle would hopefully keep you from freezing to death. $.02
This is just me speaking here, but one of my #1 priorities for what I carry are items to make sure I AM FOUND if needed.
I carry gear to spend a night on top of the mountain in a storm.
To make FIRE under any weather condition
To be SEEN from land and air, in daylight or in darkness.
To be HEARD from land.
I pack a Ground Flare, a marker Strobe, Smoke, Arial Flares, 2 Electronic Beacons ( a Spot and an PLB) 3-4 different fire starters, and then everything to sit out the storm if I can't get down off the mountain.
And all this I carry ON MY BODY in my pack and NOT on the sled.
And each of my boys carry similar gear in their packs, as the three of us pretty much always ride together.
Its probably completely over the top, but I have seen how precious little so many other guys carry, that if I ever get stuck again, I will be much better prepared to weather the storm and NOT have to call for rescue if there is any possible way around it. But if I do call for help, then I want to do everything I can to make their job as easy as possible.
Great post!
Great post guys, Thank you for sharing the information and the link to Mike Duffy's page.
Looks like I could use some additional preparations in my pack and in my tunnel bag...
Great post guys, Thank you for sharing the information and the link to Mike Duffy's page.
Looks like I could use some additional preparations in my pack and in my tunnel bag...
Great post guys, Thank you for sharing the information and the link to Mike Duffy's page.
Looks like I could use some additional preparations in my pack and in my tunnel bag...
Tomorrow I am headed up to Togwotee to take Mike's 3 day Avy Course and finally get CERTIFIED in this stuff.
Been FAR TOO LONG that I have been riding in the back country and only taking the Avy Seminars rather than the full formal 3 day course.
VERY much looking forward to getting fully trained!!
