Do you ride with a beacon, shovel and a probe.

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

Lets find out what the results are form our members as we head into avalanche season.

Would you ever ride with out the proper equipment...ever????

 

[High Velocity]

I have a shovel, probe, beacon, & backpack ( which carries the probe and shovel - where they should be). I also have an extra setup - shovel, probe, beacon, b/pack, for a "guest" rider that is not so equipped. I won't ride without my avy gear or with someone that doesn't have the gear. If you don't have it, buy, borrow, or rent it. My life and your's may depend on it. Oh, and get some training..... NO EXCUSES !!!!


Sent from my iPhone when I should be sledding.

 

[takethebounce]

I voted bogus poll. Just because you carry the mentioned equipment, doesn't mean you know how to use it and just because you know how to use it, doesn't mean you live by choices that would keep you out of harms way.

Yes I do carry all of that, yes I have gone through the AST, which is really the minimum, all of that won't ensure I use that training to make the right decision when push comes to shove. Making the right choice is what makes the difference.

 

[CATPRIDE]

Here is what we do in our group, if I do not know the riders friends bring. They only have one choice is get a beacon, if they cant source one from a rental I lend them one out of the trailer. The second thing is before we head up I hide my beacon and the group finds my beacon barried in snow near by. Teaches them some points on how to use it. Got this idea from Bill at Glacier Mountain Lodge in Blue River and used in now for years. If for some reason a person does not want to ride with a beacon, they dont ride with me PERIOD. I do not mind at all taking up newbies and helping them with getting to know the sport I love plus knowledge of safety equipement they need in the back country. The other rule I have is leave the beer in the trailer, we'll have one when we return. Just thought I would share what we do on the hills..............

 

[OOC ZigZag]

Beacon Probe Shovel a must and I have added a snowpulse to the mix 3 yrs ago. If your out in the mountians and dont have at least the 3 main parts your being irresponsible and takin risk for no reason.

 

[the_real_wild1]

I NEVER do. Ever. I also havent been to the mountains yet. However I took the 3 hour awareness cours, signed up for an ast1 course next month and plan to buy the equipment pretty soon.

 

[kefremdad]

I grew up riding Belle and Lucille mostly on a Tundra or an old Elan.. I even made a fewtrips into the Renshaw with my brother with the same machines back in the 80s.. I moved up to a Polaris 650 Triple in the mid 90's.. Up to that point I hadnt heard of a beacon or probe.. they were for skiers not sledders lol... I quit sledding in 2000 and got back in a couple of years back, after I bought an 800 Summit.. I always. always, always have my gear with me now and look back to when we had the small machines and think holy crap that was stupid what were we thinking.... I typically dont ride where an avy may happen but one never knows.. And I would feel like crap if I saw someone go under and I didnt have the gear to help dig them out.. There should be a law stating that if your going to ride you must have the gear and know how to use it..!!!!!!

 

[polarisdragon800]

I don't ride without my beacon,shovel,probes. I also wear an ABS avy backpack, When it all comes down to it, The money we spend on sleds,trucks,trailers,gear, and everything else involved in sledding.. Makes avy gear look pretty cheap and a great investment, I can save your life, which is priceless.

 

[moyiesledhead]

Yup.....but I carry 2 shovels. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to be removing my avy pack to get my shovel out to dig out my sled. Second one gets tied to the tunnel for that.

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

I voted bogus poll. Just because you carry the mentioned equipment, doesn't mean you know how to use it and just because you know how to use it, doesn't mean you live by choices that would keep you out of harms way.

Yes I do carry all of that, yes I have gone through the AST, which is really the minimum, all of that won't ensure I use that training to make the right decision when push comes to shove. Making the right choice is what makes the difference.

I can't disagree so at the same time as I did this poll I did one about Avy Training...which I have AST 1

 

[sweld]

Loaded question. Should say beacon in avalance terrain. Around home I do not wear one ditch riding etc. But it's not the mountains but last year we went to goose tower and I wore mine because of the amount of snow and there are some pretty big hills

 

[maxbed]

i never leave home without my proper tools (beacon probe shovel radio xtra batteries and saw)

 

[RUDY]

i wear mine ALWAYS no matter what terrian when in the mtns....A guy wanted to come with buddy and i last year,so i asked him "have a beacon" he replies "i don't ride with one i have the avy pack all i need" so i then then respond "if u don't have a beacon u can't come, because alot of guys will not ride with u unless u have one and if we meet a group and they wanna ride together and u have no beacon,i'll be pissed"...He ended up renting a beacon and having a great trip.

 

[Trashy]

I had to go with the odd time. I don't always where a beacon for ditch banging, but up in the hills I do go prepare. Even to spend a night, or just have dry clothes.

 

[BC Sno-Ghost]

Not much for avy terrain where I usually ride, but...I want to get to Sicamous and Hunters this year. Two years ago I bought the beacons for the wife and myself, took the awareness training and managed to find some pretty good training videos for rescue procedures and terrain condition recognition. We've been out and practiced and I honestly feel confident in my skills to find you if I need to. Last year conditions were just too unstable in Revy and Sicamous and I don't know those areas so I simply didn't go. Even if I had all the training that was possibly available, I still wouldn't risk giving my life for the sport. I've been a firefighter for 22 years now but that doesn't mean I go stand as close to the fire as I can just because I'm well trained. Some people get so hung up on whether or not I've taken an avy course they forget that a good percentage of the people who take these avy courses probably still knowingly ride unstable slopes and some of them couldn't find their ass with both hands when Chit hits it. I'm not saying don't take a course, not at all(I still do intend to)...but keep in mind that just because you've taken the courses doesn't mean you're gonna make all the right decisions, eliminate all the risks and be proficient doing a search under extreme stress. OK...go ahead and beat me up!

 

[raceu4it]

good thread for a change, oops did type that, anyhow great equipment to have, but i'd have a sat phone first, before a avy pack, and case in point is that if you had to pull the trigger you just admitted to being where you should've if you had done everything properly. my 2cents.

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

Well lets find out how many peeps have Avy Air Bags

 

[gotboost]

i have 2 air bags on the old lady does that count haha

 

[oler1234]

Well lets find out how many peeps have Avy Air Bags

run with a ABS bag myself.... statistically you are better off with the bag over anything else when it comes to avalanche gear

 

[X-it]

Well lets see how times a ride you check to see if they truly working? Answer None How many people have i seen checking? answer none