A beautiful bluebird, insanely crowded day was a perfect opportunity to try out the BCA beacon park.
Paul and I through several mock scenarios, including multiple burials.
I gave him my beacon and let him at it.
His time would put most backcountry “experts” to shame.
Imagine now how much that would be intensified if it was real and your friend was dying.
Under three minutes is a good goal for a single burial.
Multiple burials are more complex and pose difficult choices for a single rescuer.
When practicing, make a run at make it as real as possible.
First, yell AVALANCHE!.
Let everyone know, even if you are alone, do it.
Next, mark your last seen point of you victim.
You don’t want to waste valuable time searching above this point.
Turn and watch them do it.
Would hate to be chasing another rescuer around while someone is waiting to breathe.
Have your probe ready and initiate the search.
Stay on you skis and ski to the last seen point in the slide path.
Probe in a concentric circle twelve inches apart until you get a strike.
after you grab a strike, LEAVE THE PROBE IN and begin digging.
Get to the person’s head and get them breathing.
In a massive avalanche multiple initial searchers might be required.
Do not pee in the area, as if dogs are needed this will throw em off.
Multiple burials are a tough situation.
That is why protocol is so important to keep only one person at risk at a time.
I found my Tracker 2 to be fast easy to use.
I had been using a DTS for a long time and the improvement in range and speed was noticeable.
I always like the simplicity of the Tracker, as it makes it easy for even novices to use.
To many bells and whistles can get confusing, even for experienced rescuers.
