As we begin to get into the full swing of the winter adventures it’s very important that you spend some time getting reacquainted with your avalanche beacon. Many people buy an avalanche beacon, put batteries in it, strap it on, and may or may not ever really try it out. But it’s one of those pieces of equipment that you really need to spend time getting to know. Each brand of device works a little different even though they all do the same basic functions- send out a signal while turned on and search for a signal when placed in the search mode. But how yours functions is something that you need to be able not only to explain but also to use with intimate knowledge of what it is trying to tell you.
Many of you probably know that avalanche beacons come in two forms: double or triple antennas. The difference between them is essentially how many axis that they send out a search signal. A double antenna beacon is sending a signal out on an ‘X’ and ‘Y’ axis. While a three antenna is sending one out on a ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’ axis. This third axis allows for quicker pick up of rescue signal and as we all know in an avalanche situation time is everything!
Once you place your beacon into search your first action is to run with it in the direction that the directional arrow is telling you (a good practice is to run until your beacon is in single digits for meters away from the target). Then slow to a walk until those single digits become within 2 meters or less. Then crawl until your distance is under 1 meter or it increases - then begin a quick box with your beacon to make sure you are on your target. Then start probing in your spiral pattern- once you have a hit start digging and fast!
Now after reading that last paragraph you’re probably thinking, “wow, that’s a lot to do in a small amount of time”. You would be right- it is a lot to do in a small amount of time that’s why you really need to know how your beacon works and what it’s trying to tell you. One of the biggest mistakes people make with their beacon is that they forget that the target is on a three dimensional plane (that X, Y, and Z axis). Your beacon might be telling you that you are still 2.4 meters aways from the target and you take another step and it goes up to 3.2 meters away…this probably means that your target is actually 2.4 meters below you!
One last thing to think about when using your beacon- while running to your target to get within that single digit range- try to keep your head up and look at the avalanche field for potential clues. If there’s a glove on the snow- check it…it might be attached to your target! Sometimes an avalanche victim will decide to throw a hand up when they feel the snow starting to solidify and stop as a last ditch effort to make sure that they can be found quickly. So as you run to your target don’t forget to check the clues on the way!
So spend some time getting reacquainted with your avalanche beacon, the time you put into making sure that you know how your’s works is time that you then give to an avalanche victim when you have to use it!