Who doesn't use avalanche gear.

[CO Powder]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FR-GH9_hS98 take a look at this Ontario has no mountains like you're riding not and it happened there


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ANYBODY who couldn't identify that steep wind loaded slope as a potential avy site needs to stay home. I am sorry but that thing reeks of slide, no surprise to me...

 

[snowmobiler]

i only ride with women doctors just in case i need cpr

 

[CO Powder]

your grandma is a doctor too?

 

[Pro-8250]

Holy s***. Were they on a trail. One reason I think we were never to concerned about wearing any beacons, is because when you see most avalanche videos people are on big hills we wouldn't even consider. This video scares me.

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I am sure that was the intent. But to answer your question and not lecture, yes we do wear avalanche gear.

 

[dootime3]

I don't wear one and I'd say 90% of the people in my area don't either. I guess it depends a lot on the area you ride in. Slides where we ride are a rare occurrence. If I rode in wide open, steep mostly treeless area's I probably would. Life has risks, you choose which ones you can live with and which ones you can't. Do you guys wear your avy gear when driving up the mountain? Why not you could be hit by one. Maybe you need to watch some videos of avalanches going over hiways

Thanks for being honest. It's such an easy subject for everyone to rip on you for not wearing one. Our group has talked about it, but no one goes and buys any.

It's like the seatbelt. You should probably wear one always in a car. Does everybody. No. Does that make you right. No.

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[Pro-8250]

Understand the objective is to "read" the terrain and minimize the potential for a slide in the first place. But even so, I refuse to ride with others that do not have beacons, a shovel and probe. Without them, they can't save my life and I can't save theirs. I was caught in a slide east of Togwotee Mount Lodge 7 years ago along with a buddy of mine. 150 ft tall, wind loaded hill. We didn't know the signs to watch for. We were not wearing beacons (his was at home, I took mine off). When the slide stopped I was partially buried (arm and head out), so I could get myself out. My buddy was completely burried about 2 feet under. Thankfully a ski was sticking out, and a local guide passing by who came to help knew that he would most likely be within 20-30 feet of the sled. (Everything that starts together most likely comes to rest together). They found him with probes and he survived. With the right equipment, we would have found him sooner. Without a knowledgeable person coming by with the right equipment, he might not be so fortunate.

After numerous classes and field work, I'm as prepared as I can be. Yet, I hope that I never have to use the skills for real, whether its my friend, or someone that I stop to help because they didn't take the time, or spend the money, to maximize the odds that they will make it home that day.

Compared the amount of money spent on machine, riding equipment, trip costs, food/drinks, etc - $300 for a beacon is nothing.

When beacons first came into the snowmobile industry, there was a business in Cooke that rented them. when asked why they do that - the reply was so that they could locate an avalanche victim after the accident and send the body home so that the family could have closure. Thankfully many mountain riders are taking safety more seriously. It might save your life .... or the life of someone you know.

Read what frntflp is writing here. Forward it to your friends so they can read it. Maybe it will help you and your friends decide... Good luck!

 

[Blk88GT]

I ALWAYS wear my gear. I owe it to my friends, their families and mine.

If you'd trade a buddy's life for $500 bux, why are you riding with him?

 

[kevinm7]

To put it bluntly.... You are sadly mistaken if you think that "it can't happen to me." I am not so much worried about finding you, but your ability to find me in the event of an avalanche.

 

[warreng417]

Hard to believe the is a topic. In The areas we ride in BC, we see avy's going off naturally and by sleds several times a year. Thats enough for me to gear up. I guess we get to ride the good ****

 

[Timbre]

i wear mine in walmart.

Good idea!! As long as you and Gramma have your beacons, you will be able to locate each other even if buried under a pile of frenzied shoppers in slippers and sweatpants =)

 

[skibreeze]

Avys aren't just a mountain thing, lots of hillsides can and do slide. I've seen several right along a trail. Avy gear is for you and your buddies and even potential strangers. Years ago our group came across another group that had a guy that was just buried in an avy and none of them had any avy gear. The 3 of us probed for the guy, but the area was far too big to cover in enough time to save the guy. If he had had a beacon, he might have had a chance for us to find him. I can't imagine how horrible it would be if that had been one of my friends. Get the gear, practice with the gear, wear the gear.

 

[SXViper]

Simply put if you ride in the mountains you are in avalanche terrain whether you ride meadows trees or what not you're still susceptible to come across a slide. We went nearly 20 years without training and gear but don't leave home without it now. I've personally come across 3 slides in 25 years of riding. The most memorable two were one when we rode past an area that had slid two days prior and two guys were out digging out their dead friends sled . The other was where we came down the TRAIL and 100 yards away there was a group of people digging out their friend or a stranger from a slide that occurred 15 minutes prior. The feeling of helplessness on our part was overwhelming in that case. Thankfully this individual survived.

No one should be preaching to you or shaming you for that matter. You've posted a valid question and as a snowmobile community we should be urging one another to be aware, trained and prepared to look out for one another.

 

[joetroop30]

I always wear my beacon and carry my shovel and probe. I don't have an airbag pack and don't know if I'll ever invest in one. That being said I think the best thing you can do for yourself to avoid being in an avalanche is avoid riding in areas that slide. I agree with a lot of what CO Powder said. I ride in the same 5-6 areas all the time. I know what slides, where it slides and how far it runs when it slides. I avoid those areas at all times now matter what the snow conditions are. Some guys just can't do that. I'd rather go ride in the areas that I know are safe. I can have just as much fun. I watch some of these videos on Youtube and I am amazed at the stuff guys will climb or sidehill, and then be surprised that it slides.

 

[boondocker97]

http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360730

Regardless of whether you have gear or not, your first line of defense is education and being able to judge the danger of the situations you're in. After taking some classes I learned real quick that some of the spots I had been riding that I thought were safe on high danger days were not, and vice versa. If you are riding through the trees and they are not close enough to reach out and touch them with both hands, they are not keeping the snow from sliding underneath them. How "big" a hill is has nothing to do with it. Just because someone else has been riding on a slope doesn't mean it's safe either. I learned this one the hard way before I knew better and got lucky. Could have buried myself and 4-5 other guys at the bottom of a hill we were playing on for almost an hour. Looking back, none of us should have been near there.

I also learned how much weather patterns affect the danger and how what happens in November can affect the snowpack over the entire season. The Little Belt Mountains where I grew up riding rarely have slides and the spots that do slide are usually after heavy snow and are wind loaded. There is plenty of avalanche terrain, but IMO the typically warmer weather and sunny days they get there makes for a pretty solid snow pack overall. That being said I have seen small slides in a few spots and one guy half buried on a ridge after several feet of snow had fallen the day before.

FYI If you have never tried to dig up a pack buried 3ft deep in very hard compacted snow, your chances of doing it without knowing where it is exactly and without a shovel are about 0. Especially in under 10min.

Knowing what I know now, I don't ride anymore without my gear and I pay attention to the weather and avalanche reports. Regardless of where I go. More than likely I won't need it to save myself or friends as long as I'm paying attention, but it would eat at me all of my days if I needed it and didn't have it to help my friends or even strangers I came upon. Now there are some circumstances that all the gear in the world will not save someone. I'm dang sure going to do everything I can though to improve my chances.

 

[Spiced Wafer]

an avalanche can occur at 30 degree angle. that's pretty much everything out west.

 

[GoBigParts]

Been out west riding several times. First time I was dumb and didn't have a beacon. Second time I had a beacon but didn't know how to use it to find someone like my buddy. Not sure if it was the 3rd or forth time I took a class 1st and it really opened my eyes. Now I have 2 classes under my belt and have practiced with my beacon. I have always carried a probe and shovel. Know i just purchased a Avy Pack. I will not ride out west with out it. I really don't want to put myself in that situation anyway but I admit I am not an expert and know anything can happen so I chose to wear one.

 

[dootime3]

What's a guy to do. Reason I asked was cause my buddies that I ride with think its unnecessary considering the terrain we ride. So they won't buy a beacon. Does me no good to be the only one with one. Because none of us have one we do stay off the hills. We like boondocking through the trees and finding open meadows to play in. Still new to mountain riding and the powder still amazes us.

It's easy to say "I won't ride with anyone without avy gear". If I took that stance I just as well sell the sled. The guys I ride with are good group, very safe, and we all get along good. They just don't believe it's necessary. Sucks.

I watch the avy videos and I always come away saying we never go on those type of hills. I guess my way of justifying it.

Also, I checked for avy classes in our area. They are all done. Had them in October. Of course we are all in an ag related job and October is our busiest month so wasn't paying attention.






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[SXViper]

Again if you're in the mountains there is risk. It may not be you our your group but could be the guy who loaned you a tool you didn't have that morning in the parking lot. In your case if you can't depend on your friends the decision isn't easy. A bag becomes a appealing option at that point. A beacon would make you an asset to assist in any search groups you may encounter. In a more grim case it'd allow search and rescue to find you.

In any case educate yourself and in time your friends will follow. It'd also be beneficial for you to branch from your group and ride with others who have training and can help you to get your friends to be more aware and prepared.

 

[YAMA S]

Avy gear

I've rode with a beacon for 10yrs & snowpulse avy bag for 5yrs. I will NOT ride with anybody that doesn't wear a beacon at least! It's not because I think my life choices are better than somebody that doesn't, it's for the shear fact if I can't find you (or you finding me) I don't want to be the person feeling responsible that we COULDN'T find you.
I make my 11yr old son wear his beacon EVERY ride regardless of conditions or riding area. He also has taken the free Avy course from Mike Duffy & knows how to find a buried beacon. Alot of Avy education is free, a beacon is only $200-300..... What's your life or your life to the people around you worth???

 

[snowmobiler]

safety starts on the ride to the snowpark.i will not ride with anybody that has a rig smaller than a 18 wheeler