Evo Gear
What To Look For
Buy an avalanche beacon that is easy to use. All avalanche beacons receive and transmit an electronic signal of a range of at least 60 to 80 meters but some may have a wider range. A quality avalanche beacon should receive multiple signals in the event of conducting a multiple victim rescue. Learn how to use this feature. Another thing to look for is how quickly a beacon can switch from the transmit mode to receive mode; the faster the better. Choose one that has battery level indicator easily visible.
Common Pitfalls
When choosing such an important piece of gear make sure it is the model you are most comfortable using. Usually whichever model you learned on while taking an avalanche rescue course is going to be the one you are most comfortable using in a high stress situation. Don't buy into the hype that you should buy a beacon because it is the latest and greatest technology if you are going to stumble through using it in a backcountry rescue. Also consider that beacons in their first year of production often do not have all the bugs worked out. A second or third generation model is much more likely to run smoothly.
Where To Buy
Purchasing from your local outdoor gear shop is the best way of picking out a beacon that you want to use while skiing or snowboarding in the backcountry. This way you can hold different models in your hands and try them on with their torso harness that goes under your coat. There is also the local knowledge of the retailer. If you already know the exact model you want then purchasing online from sites such as www.mountaingear.com or www.backcountry.com can give you the opportunity to shop around for the best price.
Cost
Avalanche beacons can cost from $250 to $700 depending on the model you choose. The Backcountry Access Tracker DTS is a commonly used beacon (and easy to learn how to use) and ranged from $250 to $376 in 2009, while the Pieps DSP Advanced Smart Transmitter costs about $550.
About The Author
Naomi Judd, CIG, has been a writer for six years and been published in Tidal Echoes, Centripetal, The Capital City Weekly and Northwest.com. She has a self-designed Bachelor of Arts degree in adventure writing from Plymouth State University and is currently earning an Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Eastern Washington University.
