Interesting Avy Data

[AltaPowderDaze]

From the UAC's new website http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/ed_graphs.htm:





interesting that a spot probe is more likely to recover live victims than beacon search.

[Trackhead]

Is the probe-survivability data with someone who was first 'located' with a beacon and then probed?

[L7]

My GUESS would be that the quick probe is effective because they had a good idea where the victim ended up. That would also tend to indicate the victim ended up pretty close to a rescuer. The beacon probably takes a beating just because it comes into play when rescuers have no idea where to start. Time ticks away while they get the beacon out and start searching no matter how good they are with it.

Interesting to see the age stats. It's like the old saying from sailing, 'there are bold sailors and there are old sailors but here are no old and bold sailors.

[cj001f]

My GUESS would be that the quick probe is effective because they had a good idea where the victim ended up. That would also tend to indicate the victim ended up pretty close to a rescuer. The beacon probably takes a beating just because it comes into play when rescuers have no idea where to start. Time ticks away while they get the beacon out and start searching no matter how good they are with it.

Since they list it as a hasty search/probe this would be include a search based on position last seen/obvious debris trail, collection points, etc. 1st order search. Victims found this way would be have burials that are likelier to be shallow/less severe.

Beacon retrievals would generally be deeper - greater possibility of trauma in addition to asphxiation, etc.

Unscientifically the age statisitics, with the exception of the early 30's dip, jib with the age distribution of most BC users.

[splat]

From the UAC's new website http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/ed_graphs.htm:

That chart certainly supports using this:

http://www.lawinenball.at/English%20Home.htm

I picked one up in Europe, but haven't used it yet. PM Gear was considering carrying it. Not advised for heliskiing because rotor blow can set it off, acccording to the reps in the booth at ispo. Maybe a forceful downdraft loosens it up enough to deploy. Not sure why it hasn't been used more in the US, especially amongst you Utards. Have you guys looked at this before?
Looks like a great tool for your turf.

Related read:

http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline/...e=02&page=0143

[cj001f]

K2 imported/rebadged the Avalanche Ball around 2000 or so. Wasn't a hot seller - I know of at least one shop that still have their entire original purchase in stock. I'm not sure that graph supports the use of the ball - those found by an attached body part will have shallower burials by definition, less trauma, etc. Avalanche ball just speeds location, and for a small slide, shouldn't be that much faster than a beacon.

The real interesting technology, to me, are the ABS packs. Too bad they are a fortune, a pain to ship, and a pain to reload. The Freeride looks particularly interesting And isn't being imported by Life-Link, the US distributor.

[splat]

The ABS packs have definitely saved some lives the last few years in Europe.
But they're a real bitch when someone pulls the cord in a tram. There's also little to no room in your pack for anything else. LifeLink advertised them, or a similar one, a couple years ago. Liabilty insurance for these products must be through the roof.

[cj001f]

There's also little to no room in your pack for anything else. LifeLink advertised them, or a similar one, a couple years ago. Liabilty insurance for these products must be through the roof.

They've increased the pack range - you can get one with enough room for hut tripping now. Of course life-link doesn't import it They only import 2 small ones at $700 a pop. Yikes!

[splat]

APD - I notice you've not commented on these doodads. Whaddaya think?

[AltaPowderDaze]

APD - I notice you've not commented on these doodads. Whaddaya think?

i would carry one on certain days but i'd like to see more info on them before purchasing. they are an investment but i'd want the second or third model of the product, kinda like bd's avalung. prevention is obviously the best way to stay out of harms way but this, like the avalung, is worth having incase the worst case scenario happens.

i carry a lot of gear as it is so weight has become a factor for me. i think these avy cord/air bags will probably progress to a resonable price and get smaller and lighter with another year or so. i think after this years events, both in europe and here, the backcountry survival/rescue gear will flourish with new and improved ideas.

right now i can do more with the money than the product, though i do think it is worth while to have and carry.


btw, i think trackhead was interested in getting one of these.

[splat]

Thought this early model was gonna go somewhere.

[bad_roo]

interesting that a spot probe is more likely to recover live victims than beacon search.

Wonder what percentage of those buried were even wearing beacons? That would kinda nullify the efficacy of a beacon search.