Petition to add a beacon basin in Nose Hill Park

[takethebounce]

Have you considered the inconsistent snow fall amounts in Calgary for such an investment?

Wouldn't it make more sense to approach an organization like COP where they can make snow all season and provide a secure location to place it?



sent from a top secret location

 

[~Rowdy~]

Have you considered the inconsistent snow fall amounts in Calgary for such an investment?

Wouldn't it make more sense to approach an organization like COP where they can make snow all season and provide a secure location to place it?


sent from a top secret location

Yup I have, and the snow is good enough to be able to do searches. Even with thin snow there's enough to practice, and most people wouldn't know where they were buried ahead of time anyways. I thought of COP but knowing them they would charge for the use as well as their parking is horrendous. I wouldn't go there to use a beacon basin, I'd rather drive to Kananaskis at that point.

 

[Wilk INStheWEST]

Yup I have, and the snow is good enough to be able to do searches. Even with thin snow there's enough to practice, and most people wouldn't know where they were buried ahead of time anyways. I thought of COP but knowing them they would charge for the use as well as their parking is horrendous. I wouldn't go there to use a beacon basin, I'd rather drive to Kananaskis at that point.

Could the basin be a permanent thing that would be there year round? That way snow fall doesn't matter.

 

[~Rowdy~]

Could the basin be a permanent thing that would be there year round? That way snow fall doesn't matter.

I was going for a permanent solution, buried in pelican cases with locks on it underneath something locked maybe, then a pelican case with the controls. I talked to a dealer for pelican cases and they are willing to help out and donate.

I would also donate my spare beacon to the cause if I can't get manufacturers or companies within the city to donate or offer a discount, but seeing as though MANY organizations within the city and surrounding areas I figured that getting beacons donated (4-5) wouldn't be hard. The company I work with will donate tools and equipment for digging, and I'm working on asking an electrical company for donation of supplies. Also planning on presenting this to the Calgary Regional Safety Committee as a community initiative promoting safety not just within the workplace but outside of it as well to see if we can get supplies and man power donated.

The petition is just step one, I want to see that this is something the community wants before I approach companies asking for product donation or volunteer time. If there isn't 1000 signatures from a City with thousands, and sports with hundreds of thousands, it obviously is a wasted effort. People even outside the Calgary area need to realize we are the people on the mountains beside you. It is in EVERYONE's interest that people are trained and practice. This would just be one way to make it easier on people who don't want to drive to K country to utilize a beacon basin.

 

[snopro]

Signed.

 

[takethebounce]

Have you talked to BCA, the originators of the beacon basins?

I am sure Dwayne from BCA could provide you with some feedback and suggestions.



sent from a top secret location

 

[~Rowdy~]

Have you talked to BCA, the originators of the beacon basins?

I am sure Dwayne from BCA could provide you with some feedback and suggestions.



sent from a top secret location

Thanks for the suggestion Danny!

 

[250mark1]

Signed

 

[~Rowdy~]

76 signatures and a message from a guy wanting to help! Great so far!

 

[Trashy]

1500+ users in the snowmobile chat and 3962 online right now. No reason why there shouldn't be 1000+ signatures today : D

 

[lewishillbilly]

signed

 

[~Rowdy~]

Well I just got off the phone with Chris Manderson who works for the City of Calgary Parks department. He was wonderful to talk to, he's unsure that Nose Hill Park would be a viable place for a beacon basin, but is willing to work with me to find out some more information and possibly see what it would take to help this project along. Let's hope that the environmental impact of this project won't affect any wildlife and that it can happen, otherwise maybe there's another place within the City that we can get this at. I had thought of COP at one point but they would be an organization that I believe would charge, plus their parking is terrible. If you have a suggestion please place it up. Thank you.

 

[mtnrev]

Signed

 

[maierch]

Well I just got off the phone with Chris Manderson who works for the City of Calgary Parks department. He was wonderful to talk to, he's unsure that Nose Hill Park would be a viable place for a beacon basin, but is willing to work with me to find out some more information and possibly see what it would take to help this project along. Let's hope that the environmental impact of this project won't affect any wildlife and that it can happen, otherwise maybe there's another place within the City that we can get this at. I had thought of COP at one point but they would be an organization that I believe would charge, plus their parking is terrible. If you have a suggestion please place it up. Thank you.

I've gotta think that COP would be the most viable option. In order for it to be an effective training tool the beacons need to be covered with snow which isn't always gauranteed at nose hill. Also there's the element of security. The beacons at Quartz couldn't didn't last a summer without getting stolen. (For what reason is beyond me but still they were stolen) If the basin was somewhat managed by COP it would be a little more secure. Even if you had to pay a small fee and the parking sucks I think it would be worthwhile to have it there.

I do think it is a great idea that can be utlilzed by all backcountry users, I just wanted to add my 2 cents.

 

[OOC ZigZag]

Great spot hope they go for it. Good on ya Rowdy.

 

[buckie]

great idea rowdy, just signed too, and ive got a beacon id donate if ya need it just let me know

 

[~Rowdy~]

Thanks everyone for the support. I have received a lot of flack for trying to get this done saying that its stupid to do it without the city and that there isn't enough snow.

For clarity I would like to say that I believe in safety and training. There is never enough training or preparation you can do to avoid injury or death. It is my personal belief that having a facility within the city limits will attract more back country users to practice their avalanche skills and allow people to not have to travel 40+ mins to do so. Just because there is lack of snow does not mean it isn't effective. The beacons would be buried and you don't need snow to search. You only need snow to practice probing and shoveling techniques.

Regardless of the negativity that this seems to have drawn I still am for this because at the end of the day I care about the people I sled with as well as myself.

Hopefully this clears my point of view and the reason why I would like to see this happen. I don't go into the back country to cheat death but to embrace life and I hope you do too.

 

[CUSO]

With the recent avalanche death in the backside of Revelstoke mtn it has to be made aware.. It would be a good place to practice and make awareness possible. So many people need this to safely venture out to the backcountry.