Busted Beacon...and a Good Choice

[Kya]

Its 6:00 a.m. and Iskibc, John and myself are ready to climb and ski a 13,000 footer. Moments from skinning away from the turck, John does a quick beacon check. Mine ain't beeping. The battery contact is mysteriously broken off. After 15 minutes of denial, a pop-tart wrapper ghetto fix (that didn't work), and some rattling inside the device, I make the call,

"I can't go up "

At first it was tough decision not to ski. But, as the day went on it became even more clear that there really is no other choice to make. One choice could lead down a sketchy one way road. The other decision really has no consequence.



Just sharing because I'm proud of my choice not to ski, even though I missed a killer day.

[Dr. Gaper]

, a pop-tart wrapper ghetto fix (that didn't work),
:

Good thing that didn't work. That could have been a disasterous false sense of security.

[powstash]

tough call indeed, but likely the right one. No sense in rolling the dice more than you need to. MHO

[Buster Highmen]

Props to you.

[Kya]

Good thing that didn't work. That could have been a disasterous false sense of security.

Yeah no doubt. Those were the final stages of denial for sure.

[bakers_dozen]

what did you do instead, wait at the bottom?

[climb2ski]

What 13 footer was it? Oh.. Good choice!!

[Shredgar]

Or watch your route finding & slope angles & ski all day.

Folks skied the backcountry safely for years without beacons.

[Lurch]

Or watch your route finding & slope angles & ski all day.

Folks skied the backcountry safely for years without beacons.

People had sex with hookers for centuries before condoms too!

[Bunion 2020]

hazard a guess..... Ortovox????? m1 or m2?????

[yooper]

People used to drive for years without seatbelts or airbags..... just watch where you are going and drive all day.

[Shredgar]

Heh.

Can't measure hooker safety with a clinometer.

"She's windloaded with whoomping, shooting cracks & right at the 38deg critical angle, don't put it in!"

[Below Zero]

People used to drive for years without seatbelts or airbags..... just watch where you are going and drive all day.

What about the other people who are not watching where they are going?

[Kya]

Or watch your route finding & slope angles & ski all day.

Folks skied the backcountry safely for years without beacons.

Of course these thoughts raced around my head, but I think you miss the point.

I don't see how I could have really enjoyed myself that day with all the "What if...?" Would you really make that choice knowing Colorado's snowpack, and knowing you were going to a 13,000 foot summit? Seems very amature and reckless to me.

Climb2Ski: Iskibc will surely provide a kick ass TR.

[Kya]

hazard a guess..... Ortovox????? m1 or m2?????

Yep. Ortovox m2, and this is after I replaced the battery cover through recall. Kind of bummed about the quality.

[iskibc]

What 13 footer was it? Oh.. Good choice!!

Jacque Peak.


Kya, all the respect in the world for making that tough choice yesterday morning. Good on you! Waking up at 3AM, driving 2 hours, gearing up, and then finding out your beacon is broken seconds before leaving the trailhead is a heart breaker. Props on putting safety before pleasure and making that choice.

You didn't miss out on all that much :

[Crinkle]

iski wtf happened to fish creek? with all that new snow i thought you guys would have gone there fo' sho'.

kya, tough but good choice.

[iskibc]

iski wtf happened to fish creek? with all that new snow i thought you guys would have gone there fo' sho'.

Yeah, was pissed when I saw the Steamboat snow report last night. The forecasted 2-4" turned into 16" overnight . We went off the forecast and decided it would be prime to get up high and ski something big.

[Crinkle]

We went off the forecast and decided it would be prime to get up high and ski something big.

well done, looks like you guys succeded, but thowoing salt in kya's wound with the pics.

[divegirl]

Yep. Ortovox m2, and this is after I replaced the battery cover through recall. Kind of bummed about the quality.

Yikes. Legoskier has the same model - he replaced the battery cover as well.

Anyway, good choice on your part. Don't let the fools up above this post sway you.

[JR]

Doing the right thing really sucks sometimes but it sure beats a pine box.

[frozenwater]

Doing the right thing really sucks sometimes but it sure beats a pine box.

Are we back to talking about the hookers again?

[skinnyskier]

Maybe you should get a backup beacon. I don't have one, but I know Bruce Tremper does. If the fancy Ortovox beacon works out, I'll probably buy one so that would make my Barryvox a backup. Add that to the list of avy safety devices which seem like good ideas but cost money: ABS pack, avalung...

[Kya]

Maybe you should get a backup beacon. I don't have one, but I know Bruce Tremper does. If the fancy Ortovox beacon works out, I'll probably buy one so that would make my Barryvox a backup. Add that to the list of avy safety devices which seem like good ideas but cost money: ABS pack, avalung...

Just did. When I went into the shop and found out I was lookng at 3-6 weeks for warranty, I basically freaked out. 3-6 weeks without skiing pow in the BC. Yikes! So I bought DTS and will have a back up to keep in my truck or something.

[Hacksaw]

Kya,
Good choice.
Cheers,
Halsted