Tools of the trade

The standard safety and rescue equipment for travelling in avalanche terrain is a transceiver, probe and shovel. Transceivers need to be carried by every member of the party. There is also a strong case for all members to have shovels and probes.

The equipment is highly specialised designed to be lightweight and compact and there are many models available on the market.

essential kit

Transceiver

A transceiver, avalanche beacon or Pieps as it is alternately known, is an electronic device that transmits and receives a signal. When properly used, they provide the fastest way of locating someone under the snow. When a victim is buried, the transceiver will emit a frequency that other transceivers can home in on since it grows stronger at close range. Both analogue and digital units are available on the market. The digital models tend to be more user-friendly for novices.

A comparitive review of Avalanche transceivers

Probe

Collapsible probes typically consist of 30cm lengths of tubular steel that join together to make a probe 2½ to 5 metres long. If there are no visible clues on the surface; probing is essential to finding a buried victim, once you have homed in with a transceiver.

Shovel

Portable shovels made of plastic and aluminium are lightweight and compact enough that they can be carried in a back pack. Digging with a shovel (in snow that can set to the density nearing concrete), as opposed to using hands, ice axes or ski poles can dramatically decrease the time it takes to dig out a victim. Digging by hand takes an average of 45 minutes to dig out one square metre of snow. Using a shovel to dig out the same amount of snow, takes less than ten minutes.

How to use a Transceiver

  • All members of the party should be thoroughly trained in the use of transceivers.
  • The units should be securely attached to the body under protective clothing.
  • They should be switched to transmit and working checks made at the start of the day.
  • Most units operate on standard AA or AAA batteries - carry spares.

In the what to do "...if YOUR friend is buried" section there is a brief description of how to use a transceiver. Check out the Canadian Avalanche Association website for a more in depth explanation.

Listed below are some of the leading product manufacturers.