Beacon, Shovel, Backpack

[YamaMTX]

Hello everyone,

I search this site daily to learn as much as I can. I am fairly new to the mountain riding. Last year I bought a Nytro MTX and I plan on going out west this year. My question is what do you guys recommend for a Beacon, Shovel and Backpack that are good quality and a reasonable price?

 

[Climbmax]

first off take an accredited Avy course. From there you will need to buy, digital beacon, shovel, probe, and i would strongly suggest an Airbag. The new Back Country Access float 30 airbag is a great product approx 50% of what the other two main brands are.
If you bought the sled in Canada they have a current program on this product for free. $1200 value added (with taxes) with any purchase of 3 cyl nytro MTX this fall.

 

[mtdream]

Beacon- recommend one that is easy to learn how to use...Which points most people to BCA Tracker DTS...It is what I personally, use and carry a spare for those who dont have one...I can teach someone in 10 miunutes hillside, how to use one...They wont be experts but they have a base level of knowledge...

Shovel- Any one of the Aluminum ones will do...it is matter of choice and fit for packs or whatever...I would stay away from the Lexan ones, as they tend to break in extreme snow situations...they cant handle the concrete snow that is about 3-5 feet down in an avy field...They are just fine for surface snow, and for digging out your sled, but when it comes to having to chisel snow, I have seen them fail...

Backpack- is more important to find one that fits your torso...I am 6'2" and need a long torso backpack, and several companies specialize in them...

You forgot probes...you will need atleast one...I carry two one on me, and one on the sled...course I do that with shovel too, and with survival gear...

Most importantly, find an avy course, and go learn...

I dont know the site sponsors here, but there are some great ones out there that are sledders, and who will give you a reasonable deal...Snowbigdeal.com is a good one...as well as avalanchetools.com

 

[YamaMTX]

Thanks for the quick and informational response!

 

[Sticks in the Face]

I 2nd the ease of use on the Tracker - advanced features like multiple simultaneous rescues and such are nice but simplicity and ease of operation is key. . . .specifically if you're new to using one.

I also have had pretty good luck with SOS Survival on Snow www.survivalonsnow.com products for shovel and probe. Allthough I snapped the blade on the shovel saw last season trying to cut through something probably a little TOO big.

The avalanche class is the final component as being familiar with snow loading and what makes favorable conditions for an avy are a must. As the best chance for surviving an avy is too avoid being in one.

 

[mtdream]

do NOT get the shovels with the saw blade in the handle...nasty things happen when that blade breaks....making a manageable situation a urgent situation...

seen too many people break those blades, and have them end a trip...and having a blade sticking out of your hand in the backcountry is NOT a good thing!!!

 

[Sticks in the Face]

I could certainly see that happening. . . .heck it almost happened last season. I also carry a hatchet as well as a folding "switchblade" style saw but it just doesn't get through the wood as fast as the larger tooth "shovel saw" did (before it broke). . . now I don't have much of a choice

 

[yxan]

I would recommend getting a 3 antenna beacon. pieps dsp or the mammut. They got amazing range and give you if buried, an optimal range for people tracking with 3 antennas vs 2. All digital beacons are equally easy to use. Plus not that you would hope it happens but the two mentioned do multi burial real nice as well.

 

[tmk50]

I have a DTS Tracker as well - the new model is supposedly coming out this fall so you may want to try and pick that up when it comes out.

If not - the tracker is selling for as low as $240 (brand new) on some websites right now.

As mentioned, don't mess with anything but an aluminum shovel.

 

[fiddlersgreen]

I would definately look in to a Spot locator.
I had to use mine last year when a guy took a nasty spill and had to be air lifted from a remote area of the long range mountains. We had no cell or sat phone. Sent the SPOT message and in 1 hour and 45 min the chopper was there.

 

[mtdream]

true, Spot is fantastic, but it is nota replacement for beacon etc.

 

[fiddlersgreen]

I have not used a beacon as we don't have much fear of avalanches here. Are they more for pin pointing the location in a very precise area? Do they work by GPS or some other raido signal.

 

[mtdream]

they are for giving exact location of the person wearing the beacon...much more precise than GPS....

they operate on different frequency than other stuff so they can prevent signal interference, however, they are still an RF signal and as such are susceptible to interference in certain situations...