For many of us our first experience with a rescue beacon was awkward. A friend may have handed it to you before you embarked on a backcountry journey for the first time with the good ‘ol posse of friends for an afternoon of making some nice powder turns. You gladly accepted it knowing that it was the tool that could possibly save your life, however many of us are shy at telling someone you ‘don’t know how to use it.’ It may seem ridiculous but many people have done that and unfortunately many have been unprepared to rescue their peers in the event of an avalanche.
Practicing with a rescue beacon is an essential routine for any backcountry enthusiast and is something that should be done on a regular basis; however, you may find it difficult to find a partner to help do the drills when you have the time to practice. Many people that enjoy the backcountry on a regular basis work full time jobs, attend school, or have other activities that congest their time and make it difficult to take the time to run beacon drills. For this reason, in recent years several organizations like Backcountry Access have created places like Beacon Basin, a training system for ‘recreationists and pros alike.’
The original Beacon Basin was built in Loveland, CO and has now been replicated across the globe by organizations in hopes of educating more backcountry users. The set up features 10 permanently buried transmitters that are wired into a single control panel. This control panel can turn certain devices on and off to better simulate certain situations like multiple and deep burials, which generally require much more effort. The overall concept of a beacon basin is to allow people more time to focus on using their beacon instead of spending time digging hole after hole practicing all day.
Time is the most crucial factor when someone is buried. It is essential that one have the proper training to recognize certain situations and be able to react quickly and properly in conjunction with equipment knowledge such as a rescue beacon. A couple of key facts to remember in regards to avalanche burials:
- Using a shovel it typically takes around 10 minutes to free someone buried 1m deep
- Chances for survival drop from 92% in the first 15 minutes of burial to 30% after 35 minutes and near 0% after 2 hours
- It only takes 8 – 10 minutes to suffocate
Beacon Basins can be found by doing a quick search on the internet and are an excellent way to spend your time in the winter months between tours and in your free time. Below are a few locations that have already been established around the world. Enjoy safety in the backcountry and be prepared for the hazards that exist.
Alaska:
- Chugach Powder Guides, Mt. Alyeska
- H20 Guides, Valdez
California:
Colorado:
- Breckenridge
- Telluride
- Vail
Wyoming:
Canada:
- Sunshine Village, AB
- Mount Norquay, AB
- Whistler, BC
- Blackcomb, BC
- Whitewater Ski Resort, BC
- Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, BC
- Mount Carlyle Lodge, BC
- Fernie Alpine Resort, BC
- Red Mountain, BC
- Sol Mountain, BC
Europe:
- Les Grands Montets, Chamonix Valley, France
- Altavaltellina, Bormio, Italy
- Civetta, Italy
- Passo Tonale, Lombardy, Italy
- Narvik, Norway
- Seegrube Austrian Alpine Club, Innsbruck, Austria
- Werfenweng Mtn. Rescue Team, Wefenweng, Austria
