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Im lookin to get some avi gear for next season (already have a pack), and was looking for some reccomendations for stuff that is light on the wallet, but still holds up. I wont be doing super gnar backcountry, but you are required to have the equipment for mt. baker, and its always good to be prepared. any suggestions would be awesome, thanks.
Metal shovel: $40
Avy probe: $40
Transciever: Barryvox, Tracker, or DSP: $300
Common Sense (I'm still working on this one): PRICELESS.
Your wallet's gonna take a beating no matter what. But the overwhelming majority of avy accidents occur due to the human factor. Be smart.
There are lots of great gear discussion threads in "the slide zone". Not as much off topic posting in there, so finding the advice you need is efficient. Please read about more than just gear in there, as avy gear is really the last resort after things have gone bad. Being educated and prepared to avoid slides and bad situations is the most important part of the back country game.
take a class on backcountry / avalanche safety, I'm sure many posters here can recommend a good one in your area
worth more than the gear, trust me
oh, and get an avalung ($100) and hope you never use it
http://www.avalung.com/flash/avalung.html
Don't buy a pansy ass shovel, or pansy probe. Remember, you might actually need to use it. In which case you don't want some little spoon for a shovel, or toothpick for a probe.
There is no cheap way to get past this. You should buy the best. Anything else is cheating your friends.
It is sooo embarassing when your friends insist on swapping gear with you so they can be dug out by their own high quality gear and they will try to probe for you with your toothpick and try to dig you out with your spork.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trackhead
EPIRP help find you to 3 m depth company says ...
if they have a heli with the search equipment ...
All of the stuff others mentioned (I like the DTS Tracker myself) and the book SNOWSENSE. Kind of the bible for avalanche preparedness. Read it and carry it with you.
Good luck and enjoy.
wut he said + class with several field sessionsQuote:
Originally Posted by jpcski
I recommend this book by Bruce Temper: Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
Great book. Having read that, I recommend one called "Powderguide" (google it) - really focussed on risk management and how, having analysed the snow etc, you answer the most important question "Go or no go?".Quote:
Originally Posted by Bzzzt
I'd also second the stuff about getting a good metal shovel.
I have a Barryvox, but I the new Pieps seems to have some very nice features.
Piste Hors has a summary here: http://www.pistehors.com/articles/av.../pieps-dsp.htm
Get a clinometer & learn to read terrain. Lots of snowpits, learn the standard tests & how to read the snow.
The rescue gear is only there for backup if the decisionmaking & routefinding are missed.
When I took the UAC Avalanche School they handed out "Snow Sense" by Fredston & Fesler as a reference.
The class followed the outline of Tremper's "Staying Alive in Avalance Terrain", which is very good & my favorite.
The video "Winning the Avalanche Game" is another favorite:
http://www.mgear.com/pages/product/p...MG/item/510083
A wilderness 1st responder or 1st aid course is a good invertment if your unsure of your 1st aid skills. High tech avvy gear and a 1st aid kit are pretty much worthless w/out the correct knowlegde to use them.
thanks for all the info, anyone know of any avi classes near seattle?
Why don't you try the Mt. Baker website? Unless you want to drive into Seattle...Quote:
Originally Posted by skibum193
rei puts on basic classes, but there is a level one class offered at baker and there are courses at stevens.
dts tracker is one of the easier transcievers to use.
Baker's got classes, but you can also sign up for CAA certified classes in the Central Cascades through Gary Brill (either Marmot or REI) which are 4 day coursesQuote:
Originally Posted by BakerBoy
http://www.geocities.com/garyabrill/avalanche.html
Field days are usually conducted near Stevens Pass or Snoqualmie.
And if you look around, you can get a free DTS shovel or probe when you buy a tracker....Quote:
Originally Posted by kyle christenso
I got mine here
Yes, but you don't need CAA cert to ride the backcountry at Baker... A couple of the most book-smart avy people around here are the biggest retards out in the field.
This place has gone soft. What happened to.....
TECH TALK BIATCH!
Does the DTS Shovel have directional arrows to tell you where to dig? Will it help determining the size and shape of my next kicker?Quote:
Originally Posted by skier0178
Certification shouldn't carry that much weight, but it does get you an extra field day, which is more invaluable than any classroom stuff.
And like everyone else has stated, cost shouldn't be an issue for gear.
Go with a metal shovel. Plastic just doesn't make the grade.