BC/Avy Training

HankTheTank

HankTheTank

Member
Yo I was wondering how to get training using trancievers and testing snow etc.

I always want to go in the B.C. but i dont know how to do any of that stuff, and I'm not going to go buy the stuff if I dont know how to use it. Trancievers are like $500 aren't they?

I saw a place at Baker where people were practicing, does anyone know if anywhere in tahoe has that?

Help me out.
 
A good first transceiver is the BCA Tracker DTS. It's like $290 or so, and good for your first. If you're in college near any place that has snow, see if they offer a class. Sometimes there are Level 1 Avy classes at ski areas. They're just a few day classes, but beneficial.

Definitely roll up to your mountain and see if you can find out any info. I'm sure the ski patrol there will know, as will the Events people. whatever you do, don't assume you know enough. A lot of avalanche victims are people who think they know all there is to know, and it gets 'em.
 
I dont really have a mountain, i have all the tahoe area pretty much and im sure there is something there, but i have never seen it.
 
yeah I will thanks dude. I kinda want to know what the training actually entails, like what you learn. Have you done it?
 
A level 1 course is just going to cover really basic stuff. Where you're going to see slides, what causes instability, how not to be a moron, etc. It will be mostly classroom, and they should take you out one day to dig pits and find trancievers. You will not know enough to go out after it unless you're with a group of people who know what they are doing.

What I would recommend is taking the course, then finding a couple good friends who go out in the backcountry frequently and know the area you will be skiing. That way you can take the concepts introduced in the quick course and see them in action (hopefully not too closely!). The key is to learn the basics where it is safe, but there is no substitute for actual experience.
 
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