Just bought a beacon

[Plakespear]

Okay, I just bought a beacon (Pieps 457). I hope I never have to use it, but I want to be prepared just in case. I'd like to practice with it at least once before I leave for the Summit, soooo.....

Do any NYC area mags want to have a search party sometime so I can learn how to use this thing? I was thinking perhaps we could meet at the Jersey shore, and bury the things in the beach sometime.

Any interest?

[CUBUCK]

I could use some more practice with mine. When were you thinking??

[Plakespear]

Sunday AM?

[Dexter Rutecki]

Since Snorkeldeep and I have been trying to get something like this together since last spring, and it still hasn't happened, I just don't see it. And we were only thinking of meeting in Central Park, not down in NJ.
My advice would be figure it out with someone at the summit, and practice the night you get there, or the next morning/day.
Hopefully you're not going to walk into an avalanche rescue situation the moment you land.
But if CUBuck is down for it, all the better.

[Stanley]

FYI: JHMR has established a beacon practice course inside the resort boundries at the bottom of Rendezvous Bowl. Don't know if its bring your own batteries or not.

[ScottG]

Just admit that you are a BEACON JONG!
if you practice once or twice at home, just be honest with your touring partners.
Do NOT lie or exagerate your experience - that could get someone else killled.
You should be treated as a touron that is being guided and is of no use in an emergency. that is OK, as long as others who know what is going on are in your group and know your weaknesses.
You have got to train to be able to step up in an emergency. You have to not only know how to use your beacon, but also how to watch a slide, start a search, use the right pattern based on # of searchers, zero in on a signal, probe for a body and then dig.
There's a lot to it, and when your friend is buried, all your actions need to be accurate and correct.

Also, analog beacons like yours generally take more time to use and be efficient with than the digitial ones with the arrow and distance display.
Don't forget that you are following a flux line to the victim and not a straight line. Also, you need to dial down the volume while searching.
Read, read and re-read if you cannot train. When in JH (or anywhere there is another beacon available), train as much as you can tolerate. the more the better.
Watch the avvy video on the TGR High Life DVD.
Or buy the Avvy DVD from BlackDiamond.

[cj001f]

It ain't fucking rocket science, and there are better places to spend your time (like learning how to avoid an avy) then honing an extra 5 secs off your search time.

To practice beacon searching buy an old used crappy beacon (I've one I'll sell you), have someone hide it, find it, and repeat.

[AltaPowderDaze]

It ain't fucking rocket science, and there are better places to spend your time (like learning how to avoid an avy) then honing an extra 5 secs off your search time.

To practice beacon searching buy an old used crappy beacon (I've one I'll sell you), have someone hide it, find it, and repeat.

i agree about learning how to avoid one but i disagree about the 5 seconds. every second counts. even if you know how to use a beacon, a real situation can be quite a lot to handle. the more you practice the more it becomes second nature.

[cj001f]

i agree about learning how to avoid one but i disagree about the 5 seconds. every second counts. even if you know how to use a beacon, a real situation can be quite a lot to handle. the more you practice the more it becomes second nature.

Yeah, every second counts. Being able to dig faster is probably an easier way to gain 5 secs than more beacon practice, imho, unless you have access to a beacon basin/buried beacons.

I prioritize things this way
1)Not getting caught
2)Not getting caught
3)Providing a quick efficent rescue - this goes from finding the victim to providing medical care for them if they are injured.

[LaramieSkiBum]

It ain't fucking rocket science, and there are better places to spend your time (like learning how to avoid an avy) then honing an extra 5 secs off your search time.

I think its wrong to suggest to someone that has never used their beacon, especially an anolog one, that using a beacon doesn't require much practice.

I prioritize things this way .....

Even digital beacons can be tricky. I have never had to use mine under real stress, but the simulated stress of a several practice slide areas and its effects on myself and the people aiding in the search really impressed on me that practice is vital. Precious MINUTES can be lost due to inefficent beacon search methods, not mere seconds.

Possible thread hijack - but might you share what you have learned about digging technique?

EDIT: question is directed at cj001f

[Plakespear]

Well, in the grand tradition of Eastern Maggots, the practice session never happenned. And I know I am a beacon JONG. I would never venture in to the backcountry without a group of experienced people, and even than I wouldn't go out unless the avalanche danger was low. But, you never know what might happen. With all of the deaths this year, I figured that it would be best to have one. Again, I hope I never truly need it, but you can never be 100% sure.

[AltaPowderDaze]

Possible thread hijack - but might you share what you have learned about digging technique?

i'm not sure who this was addressed to but i'll share what i now know.

first make sure you leave the probe in place when you get a strike. it will allow you to see where you are digging to. when digging out a partner on a slope with a pitch you can save time by digging in from the low side rather than straight down. it takes less energy and you don't end up in an akward position trying to get leverage and still not crush his/her air pocket. if it is a deep burial they will need that air pocket for any chance of survival. i have unfortunatly had the opportunity to dig with both my shovel and a patrollers shovel. the reality is that his shovel moved so much snow faster and with less effort than mine. that is why i now carry a large telescoping shovel. remember that even a shallow burial at the head my need you to dig a 5-6' deep or long pit just for extrication. you cannot just pull someone out after you have them uncovered to the waist.

[Below Zero]

Hey Plake, If you want to do some beacon practice during the Summit, I'd be up for that. I'll be at Hostel X, so maybe we could do a quick session just outside? I'm also a backcountry JONG and could use the practice.

[Plakespear]

Hey Plake, If you want to do some beacon practice during the Summit, I'd be up for that. I'll be at Hostel X, so maybe we could do a quick session just outside? I'm also a backcountry JONG and could use the practice.

Sounds good. I'll be arriving on Monday...

[Arty50]

As someone who just recently started practicing with his beacon, I can't recommend enough that you get out there and practice, practice, practice. All the manuals in the world can't prepare you for the first time you go out there and actually use it. Sure they help, but it's different to put your hands on the thing. My first search was slow as death. The next ones were a lot faster. So now I'm shaving seconds, not minutes. And multiples are tricky. I'm feeling decent with 2, but I need a lot of work with 3.

And I'm no slouch with technical matters. Searchs aren't rocket science, but they're not turning on a light switch either.

Bottom line, don't let your first search be an actual rescue. There's a good chance your buddy will die.

[comish]

Also, try practicing with beacon buried deeper than 2 feet. This dramatically changes the dealeo. Mrs. Comish was totally confident with the beacon was only buried a foot or two under, then for kicks I buried the shit out of it. It really changed the deal because of that third dimension.

If you don't practice you aren't talking about 5 sec's, but rather minutes, which does matter.

I agree first priority is not to get caught, but you still gotta know how to use the beacon otherwise its useless.

[Arty50]

Also, try practicing with beacon buried deeper than 2 feet. This dramatically changes the dealeo. Mrs. Comish was totally confident with the beacon was only buried a foot or two under, then for kicks I buried the shit out of it. It really changed the deal because of that third dimension.

Perhaps that explains my poor performance with 3+. The beacon course at Kirkwood is set up with their usual panache. In other words, they put them on the ground early this season and haven't moved them since. Right now, the shallowest beacon is 1.5 meters underneath the surface. The rest are 2.0 - 2.5 meters down.

[cj001f]

Is Squaw's Basin up and running yet?