Avalanche Rescue Series: Beacon Searching 101

Learn the basics of avalanche beacon searching in our updated video with the team from Backcountry Access. BCA's Andy Wenberg introduces the four phases of the transceiver search: the signal search, coarse search, fine search, and pinpointing (probing). While Andy uses the Tracker3 in this video, the techniques apply to all avalanche beacons.
Before traveling into the winter backcountry be sure to take an avalanche class. For more educational resources, go to www.backcountryaccess.com/educ...

[@WildernessMedic]

"Leave it on until you get back to the bar." No reason to turn it off then, you never know where you're going to end up after that.

[@debramcghan5391]

BCA is a leader in helping to raise awareness and change the culture in backcountry travel. Thank you for these top notch videos to help people understand the process and importance of practice.

[@benmartin4383]

Mike Duffy is legend! He needs more spotlight.

[@5c00terz]

I'm competent at probing and trying to get better at the rest of it.

[@LairAstro]

Expert in probing you say 👽

[@lalalabad]

excellent video. thx fellas

[@mrkarir]

Good stuff!

[@elecreations]

Thanks for this vid

[@paolacarbajal4911]

You rock!

[@josh7120]

Thank you. This is so cool! I'll buy 2, have my friend get covered by an avalanche and me be the rescuer. Best game ever! Jk love these tools

[@tinaromaine370]

does the bca radio also interfere with the transceiver

[@ishanishu7011]

Love from INDIA

[@agentorange153]

Good explanation! Question: how can these techniques be used with a helicopter search? Also, if there are multiple rescue teams, some of whom use transceivers and others use dogs, how can their search efforts best be coordinated?

[@marlinmando]

Some helicopter services -like Flight For Life Colorado use an external transceiver that dangles from the aircraft, and is used for a signal search, then coarse search. which is able to get within 10 feet of the victim, allowing crews to roughly locate victims quickly. Helicopters are also used to shuttle rescue specialists and dogs from rally points to near the scene of the slide when safe. There is debate about whether helicopter noise, rotor wash and odor from jet exhaust hinders dogs' abilities to smell and find buried victims.

[@agentorange153]

@@marlinmando Thanks!

[@julianblok2846]

is there is a step to call for help or is this step considered to take to much time?

[@Rmmmmmmmmmmk]

Take this with a grain of salt, but most victims are killed by trauma from the Avalanche, not suffocation. So calling for help is very important. That said, I'd imagine your first priority would be to do a search and at least dig them out enough so they have an airway, then you can assess for injury and get help

[@davedesmond1574]

@@Rmmmmmmmmmmk not most. About 25% of fatalities are caused by trauma. In the grand scheme waiting ten minutes to dig the person out before calling for help could save their life. Getting an airway is the number one most important thing immediately after a slide

[@jimmytiler5522]

With my NEW device they will find you asap. I'm looking for funding as I type. My three devices ALL save lives. I want no money nor recognition rather just save a life.

[@deliciousness8183]

I'll just stay out of the mountains during the winter

[@dextermorgan5397]

3 people dead in norway cause avelance maybe if they had this or the bubble they would survive :/

[@agentorange153]

Yes, avalanche beacons are THE most important survival tools in an avalanche! BTW, by "the bubble", do you mean the one in "The World Is Not Enough"? kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4K0faSIjtJnrMksi=l8ezghCoASOA7xWH&t=218

[@neumichel]

why are there different methods of using tranceivers??? This is awful. No standard. the other youtube video has a totally different methodology. this video seems a bit rushed and not thorough. its almost an ad for the gear.

[@user-js5kr5zg3y]

With my NEW device they will find you asap. I'm looking for funding as I type. My three devices ALL save lives. I want no money nor recognition rather just save a life.