Avalanche beacons - a primer
I am planning a ski trip to Val Thorens next year and as part of my preparations I'm reading up on what kind of search and rescue systems that exist in case of an avalanche. There are two standards on the marked, each with their own use.
In case of an avalanche the first 15-20 minutes are crucial for saving lives. Beacons are used to locate avalanche victims quickly after the avalanche.
The best ways to handle avalanches is to avoid them! This primer only talks about the beacon, not how to use the beacon or how to become an expert on avalanche rescue!
| System | Use |
|---|---|
| Recco | The system consists of a
reflector and a
detector. The reflector is a passive chip that is attached to your
clothes. Usually you buy coats with a Recco chip sewn in. As this chip
is passive there is no batteries to replace or anything to turn on
before you ski. (Nor can you test that the chip works...) You can buy the Recco chips, but not the detector. As so, this system is only of any value when on or near the trail at a ski resort. More than 500 ski resorts over the world have Recco detectors. If you get caught by an avalanche skilled rescuers will search for you with the detector. |
| 457kHz beacon | This frequency is an international standard (en300718 or
ETS300718) and units from different
vendors work together. You buy a unit that is both a transmitter and
receiver. (Also called
transceivers.) When you travel as part of a group each participant
carry one. In case of an avalanche the part of the group that did not
got caught by the avalanche can start searching immediately. When skiing off-pist (backcountry) you want to use this kind of equipment. |
What to choose?
Between the two systems I choose to use both as they complement each other more than they compete. I have not decided what 457kHz beacon to use yet.
References
posted by Helge Olav Helgsen @ 23:23
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