out of respect of our lost brothers and sisters past present and hopefully with this list, maybe not so many in the furture. list the most important tools for back country riding.
along with the normal obvious stuff, avy pack, avy beaon, probe shovel.... lets list as many personal saftey items we can to help rookie and veteran back country riders come home safe. i'll start with one i feel is over looked but very important (to me and my group).
mine may not be a popular one out west but, here in the east they are utilized alittle more. my suggestion is for all of us to wear and use helmet comuncators like the collett platinums. they have been an endless help to our group. while in wyoming 2 years ago about 1/2 the group had them. one of our users (grapeape) was stuck on a hill with a fair steep angle and high up. another member without a communcator went up and circled above grape, high marking and alarming the whole group. grape got on the commincator and told us to stop him before he came again possibly triggering a slide (if his first one wasnt going to). like on cue the person was lining up to run at him again, the group stopped him through communicating with the radios and telling him the possible consequence of his first run let alone anymore.
you may not be able to have full blown conversations on them but you can hear, sharp right, sharp left, log on the right, rock on the left, i'm stuck (with location), this is not safe, lets move on...ect this may prevent persons being caught in a position of not knowing they are in danger and make them aware, and able to take action before something bad happens.
also not only using the helmet communcators but frs/gmrs radios all coordinated and locked on the same channel before leaving the parking areas. when you get stuck or take off your helmet for a reason, turn on the frs and talk via that (has better range and you can hear better). you can tell the group if it is easy, doable, has an abstacle(s), is too dangerous, or impassable because of trail blockage, trees, boulders, slide ect...
also make sure your guide (if you have one) has one. and or the first and last people in line in the group have radios. then the whole group can communicate and make the whole trip safer for all. these work and are a great aid for traveling and playing in the back country. these also help with setting up and taking great pics and vids. you can communicate to the rider and cameras where your going, what your doing or where you/they need to be.
keep this going for our friends we've loved and lost. may their rides be filled with deep powder, fresh snow, bluebird skies and endless days in the back country. ski
along with the normal obvious stuff, avy pack, avy beaon, probe shovel.... lets list as many personal saftey items we can to help rookie and veteran back country riders come home safe. i'll start with one i feel is over looked but very important (to me and my group).
mine may not be a popular one out west but, here in the east they are utilized alittle more. my suggestion is for all of us to wear and use helmet comuncators like the collett platinums. they have been an endless help to our group. while in wyoming 2 years ago about 1/2 the group had them. one of our users (grapeape) was stuck on a hill with a fair steep angle and high up. another member without a communcator went up and circled above grape, high marking and alarming the whole group. grape got on the commincator and told us to stop him before he came again possibly triggering a slide (if his first one wasnt going to). like on cue the person was lining up to run at him again, the group stopped him through communicating with the radios and telling him the possible consequence of his first run let alone anymore.
you may not be able to have full blown conversations on them but you can hear, sharp right, sharp left, log on the right, rock on the left, i'm stuck (with location), this is not safe, lets move on...ect this may prevent persons being caught in a position of not knowing they are in danger and make them aware, and able to take action before something bad happens.
also not only using the helmet communcators but frs/gmrs radios all coordinated and locked on the same channel before leaving the parking areas. when you get stuck or take off your helmet for a reason, turn on the frs and talk via that (has better range and you can hear better). you can tell the group if it is easy, doable, has an abstacle(s), is too dangerous, or impassable because of trail blockage, trees, boulders, slide ect...
also make sure your guide (if you have one) has one. and or the first and last people in line in the group have radios. then the whole group can communicate and make the whole trip safer for all. these work and are a great aid for traveling and playing in the back country. these also help with setting up and taking great pics and vids. you can communicate to the rider and cameras where your going, what your doing or where you/they need to be.
keep this going for our friends we've loved and lost. may their rides be filled with deep powder, fresh snow, bluebird skies and endless days in the back country. ski
