Avalanche Group Search Techniques - Searching in Parallel

Jim Conway, Bruce Edgerly and the crew from Backcountry Access (BCA) illustrate how to perform an avalanche rescue with more than one rescuer. Important elements include proper “lane discipline” when establishing search strips, when to abandon your search strip to perform the coarse and fine search, how to manage “rogue signals,” and best practices for communication and leadership on the avalanche debris pile. Essential viewing for both recreational and professional avalanche rescue training.
Learn more: backcountryaccess.com

[@paulbaldie]

Thank you! This is really useful!

[@O_leeps]

Thanks for the refresher!

[@treebashers5767]

Wonderful video! We are looking forward to practicing this season.

[@jimconway953]

As we have been training more people in this, here are some fresh tips: The leader must have a good vantage point to ensure all beacon rescuers are properly spaced. The leader must declare the lane width: This is also the distance at which searchers will break their lane and go directional. It is important for beacon rescuers to maintain their formation across the fall line to each other: This allows the leaders to better redistribute rescuers below a searcher breaking lane and going to fine search. GREAT TIP: While learning or using this technique the leader should not be afraid to yell for everyone to STOP so rescuers' spacing can be corrected or the formation can be squared up to the fall line (this takes seconds and improves efficiency greatly). IF you are leading and searching....be prepared to slow things up just a little bit to be able to maintain lane discipline: Be prepared to STOP the group more frequently (again, this takes seconds and improves efficiency). Finally: THE 10 METER LANE SPACING IN THIS VIDEO IS JUST AN EXAMPLE BASED ON THE WIDTH OF THE DEBRIS WE WERE SEARCHING AND THE NUMBER OF RESCUERS WE HAVE!!! LANE WIDTHS ARE DETERMINED BY THE WIDTH OF THE DEBRIS AND NUMBER OF SEARCHERS. Wide lanes may require a zip zag pattern to cover an area (in a wide slide with fewer rescuers for instance). Max direct descent lanes are generally considered to be 40 meters max but consult your beacon manufacturer for their recommendations. Lanes less then 10 meters may be counter productive; if you have more people then needed up front on beacons, have some rescuers ready with probes and shovels.

[@jimconway953]

If you are interested in an advanced rec rescue clinic that covers group search and advanced rescue techniques please leave a comment so we can gage interest. This proposed course would obviously be best taken with your normal touring partners. It would be an intense one day class. Interested? Let us know!

[@alisse13]

Thank you for the video! Good refresher. Quick feedback: using "they" when talking about rescuers and leaders makes everything the most inclusive for everyone!

[@jimconway953]

Just remember, this is another tool for your rescue toolbox. Individual conditions and manpower dictate what the best rescue methods are.