Would you sled with someone that doesn't have an avy bag?

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
Got into a heated debate over the weekend about sledding and what the requirements for avalanche safety gear should be. One guy said that he would not go sledding with anyone that did not have an avalanche bag. This seemed kind of....snooty to me. I agree not riding with someone that does not have beacon, probe and shovel, even maybe avalanche training, but without an avalanche bag? I think that having it is a good idea, and why not have it if you can afford it or if it suits your riding style. My issue is the bags that I have seen do not offer anything as far as storage in the actual pack goes.

What are your thoughts? Would you tell someone to hit the road if they showed up with a regular pack?
 
Last edited:

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
lmao! I guess we'll soon find out who's not already worn out from the helmit wearing thread.

uh oh...did I open up a can of worms?! I just want to know if I'm behind the times or something.
 

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
I've heard that before also, I wouldn't tell them to hit the road... I took me a few years before I could afford to purchase my own Avy pack.

My issue with the statement of "I will not sled with anyone that does not have an avalanche bag" is that it does not have the personal effect on the group that riding without a beacon, probe and shovel does. If I rode without those things it puts your life in danger just as much as mine. An avalanche bag is more for personal safety as opposed to group safety. Am I wrong in thinking this?

Also, I go back to the lack of storage the avy bags that I've seen have. I don't have any source of storage except for my back pack and I carry a lot of survival stuff in there.
 

takethebounce

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2008
Messages
5,193
Reaction score
8,750
Location
calgary
Sounds pretty simple to me. Don't ride with them.

Do they treat an avy bag as a fail safe? That's pretty ignorant if they do. Education and common sense first. Transceivers for anyone travelling in avy terrain even if you don't climb hills. Just as dangerous getting to your destination sometimes.

Avy packs are a tool meant for the unimaginable time you never thought you would need it. I wear one yes but not because I am going to rely upon it to save my ass, but for the "what if"

As far as storage goes. Mine holds more than enough. Big stuff goes in tunel bag off of me. And price, well I figure if someone can afford a new sled they can afford most if the standard safety items. A pack is a bonus.

Sent from my HTC-Z710a using Tapatalk 2
 
Last edited:

Bnorth

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
10,771
Reaction score
20,797
Location
Salmon Arm
Yeah I don't care about avy bag or not. Truthfully I haven't seen any hard evidence that they raise your chances of survival that much. Been a few deaths in recent years even with bags.
 

TylerG

Super Mod Geek
Administrator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2006
Messages
31,424
Reaction score
29,234
Location
Parkland County
honestly, I probably will NEVER purchase an Avy Air Bag..... my own choice and decision. However, if you do not have a beacon, probe, shovel, then yes you are going to be told you are not riding with us.
 

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
Sounds pretty simple to me. Don't ride with them.

Do they treat an avy bag as a fail safe? That's pretty ignorant if they do. Education and common sense first. Transceivers for anyone travelling in avy terrain even if you don't climb hills. Just as dangerous getting to your destination sometimes.

Avy packs are a tool meant for the unimaginable time you never thought you would need it. I wear one yes but not because I am going to rely upon it to save my ass, but for the "what if"



Sent from my HTC-Z710a using Tapatalk 2

There it is!
 

medler

I love guns
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
17,667
Reaction score
8,146
Location
Stettler Alberta
no expert in this area,,but arent most deaths cased by trauma,instead of suffocation...?Just asking?

Trauma as in,,getting debris hittting you ,trees rocks etc,,that kills you before or no?
 

teamgreen

Active VIP Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
2,080
Reaction score
1,880
Location
Airdrie
I dont have an avy bag. Some of the guys i ride with do, but not all. Like others said beacons, shovel and probe are a must.

I could say I wont ride with anyone that doesnt have First Aid/CPR training as well, but really if you can put a band-aid on that good first aid, and if you are doing CPR on me waiting for a rescue crew, chances are I was gone before CPR was even started.
 

Iron Horse Racing

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,514
Location
Sherwood Park, ALberta
"What are your thoughts? Would you tell someone to hit the road if they showed up with a regular pack?" No

The beacon, probe, shovel and avy training ( ie knowing how to use the equipment) directly affect's my well being, by directly affecting your ability to find and save me....... while the avy pack directly affects the person wearing it and my chances of finding and saving her/him....

Ummmmm it's just another tool, why wouldn’t you own/wear one ....

We wear the the BCA Float 30 and all of our survival/safety gear fits in itincluding survival food rations, extra goggles....everything else is in anotherbag on the sled...


Haven’t had to use, hope I never do....but it’s therelike a good tool just waiting to be used...
 

medler

I love guns
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
17,667
Reaction score
8,146
Location
Stettler Alberta
Ya,,i would rather be dead than have brain damage
I dont have an avy bag. Some of the guys i ride with do, but not all. Like others said beacons, shovel and probe are a must.

I could say I wont ride with anyone that doesnt have First Aid/CPR training as well, but really if you can put a band-aid on that good first aid, and if you are doing CPR on me waiting for a rescue crew, chances are I was gone before CPR was even started.
 

teamgreen

Active VIP Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
2,080
Reaction score
1,880
Location
Airdrie
This is like Maxwell turning guys away that dont ride doos. He would never do it because even he knows all the good riders have cats; not because they are smarter people, but because Cats dont require daily repairs......:d:d
 

~Rowdy~

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
3,738
Reaction score
5,042
Location
Alberta
This is like Maxwell turning guys away that dont ride doos. He would never do it because even he know all the good riders have cats; not because they are better riders, but because Cats dont require daily repairs......:d:d

you had to go there...lol
 
Top Bottom