Avy Beacon

[bklyn]

Thanks for posting this - I also bought one.

[Spats]

REI also has a Voile ski pack with Telepack aluminum shovel and 260cm probe for $99.99 (search for "probe"). Add three sticks of P-Tex and you can get the $25 off.

That's $75 + shipping for real avalanche gear. The pack is a great design, too: the main compartment opens from the strap side so you can easily get to everything with skis strapped on.

[wolfs]

For benefit of those who are reading this thread from same perspective as original poster, and have already missed the boat on the good Barryvox deal:
If you're just starting out, think of beacon+class as a package deal.
If you've already bought a beacon, sign up for the class because it will give you at least some practice with your beacon, and (more importantly) give you the necessary perspective on all the other factors where the best beacon in the world, even with dozens of people searching for you on the scene instantly, won't do any good.
If you haven't yet bought a beacon, a class gives you two possible angles: 1) for the field trip you can plunk down some $ for the rental; more often than not it'll be a Tracker, and you can decided whether you like it or not under field conditions. 2) In the class I took from Gary Brill @ Marmot Bellevue a few years ago, the class itself was an opportunity where Marmot would give a discount if more than 5 class members wanted to buy a beacon (I think they might have limited the offer to the Tracker but I'm not sure).

[alembical]

I am also considering the Mammut and the Tracker. One difference I see between them, that is not mentioned much, is the fact that the Tracker has lit indicators, where as, the Mammut is not back-lit. Is this not a big deal (as I have heard no criticism of it)? It seems to me that this could be a big difference between the 2.

thanks in advance, Alembical

** oops! I just reread Lou's article and it appears like it is backlit and the guy at the local shop knows even less than me. No wonder why I have never heard that difference mentioned***

[StaggerLee]

Dude,

Not that I am a veteran on this board...but the last post on this thread was two months ago...dead thread amigo.

[alembical]

At the same time, if I posted a question in a new thread, the first response in place of yours would have been someone calling me a jong and telling me to search the forum first. It may have been old, but it was still one of the most recent threads in this forum.

Alembical

[Meadow Skipper]

At the same time, if I posted a question in a new thread, the first response in place of yours would have been someone calling me a jong and telling me to search the forum first.

If I understand it right, now you get to jong him.

[StaggerLee]

Go with the B-Vox. Great beacon. Easy to use. Analog and digital. Capable in multiple burial situation. I have used it for the past two years and like. Luckily, I have only had to put it in search mode during beacon practice. Hope it stays that way.