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Category: Avalanche Safety

Recommended Reading: Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose in the Avalanche Patch

Recommended Reading: Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose in the Avalanche Patch

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Recently I finished reading this book for the second time and realized it definitely deserves more public awareness. Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose in the Avalanche Patch isn’t your everyday avalanche safety or snow science book. It’s more an exploration of the mind of a backcountry skier and our decision making processes. If you’re an experienced backcountry traveler interested in making better decisions, this is a must read. About the Author Author Bruce Kay has over 35 years of experience as…

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bca a2 ext shovel in the snow
Review: BCA A-2 EXT Avalanche Shovel with Saw

Review: BCA A-2 EXT Avalanche Shovel with Saw

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I’ve been carrying a new shovel and saw in my kit this season: the Backcountry Access A-2 EXT shovel with saw. One reason I was looking for a new avalanche shovel was to save a bit of space in my pack. My old Black Diamond Deploy shovel is a bit of an awkward shape and doesn’t pack super well in the avy gear pocket of my Mammut Spindrift pack. The blade of the A-2 is lower profile and looks like…

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BCA Tracker S Avalanche Transceiver Review: Budget-Friendly. High Performance.

BCA Tracker S Avalanche Transceiver Review: Budget-Friendly. High Performance.

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Backcountry Access avalanche transceivers are some of the most popular on the market. They’re reliable, easy to use and the BCA Tracker S continues that trend. “Simplicity is Speed” is the BCA mantra. The Tracker S is essentially a slightly pared down version of the excellent Tracker 3. The performance, ease of use and physical characteristics are the same but BCA has removed motion sensing auto-revert-to-transmit (aka revert-to-send) and USB upgrade capabilities. Neither of these are essential to an avalanche…

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snowy slope in the sunshine
Avalanche Safety: Terrain Management – Slope Angle

Avalanche Safety: Terrain Management – Slope Angle

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Terrain management is one of the three pillars of avalanche safety along with the snowpack and weather. Unlike the snowpack and the weather, terrain doesn’t change much over time. The snowpack will develop crusts with warm weather, but the angle of your slope won’t change because of some sun or heavy winds. Terrain management is a skill that is critical to living a long and happy life in the backcountry. It’s the number one skill that can keep you safe…

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The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs in 2019

The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs in 2019

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Avalanche Airbags are all the rage these days and with good reason. The chances of surviving a slide with an airbag is way higher than without. This article will give readers a bit of background on avalanche airbag packs and then look at the best avalanche airbag packs in 2019. There are options for many different uses, so read on to find out which one makes sense for you. What is an Avalanche Airbag? We’ll go over the basics here,…

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snowy ridge and mountains
Early Season Avalanche Safety Refresher for Backcountry Skiing

Early Season Avalanche Safety Refresher for Backcountry Skiing

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It feels like just yesterday we were enjoying long, sunny days and drinks on patios, but now the days are getting shorter and definitely getting colder. You may even have seen some snow fly already depending on where you live. This weather is started to get us excited for the upcoming ski season and all of the epic snow adventures we hope to have. But before heading out to the mountains, there are a few things you should do and…

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spring snow crocus
Avalanche Safety: Four Types of Spring Snowpack

Avalanche Safety: Four Types of Spring Snowpack

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Backcountry skiing or boarding in the spring can be a very rewarding experience, but the variability of the snowpack and rapidly changing conditions can make it a bit tricky to keep yourself out of avalanche danger. In this article we’re going to cover four pretty typical spring scenarios, the dangers associated with each and how to mitigate the risk. Even with the knowledge you gain from this article, always keep in mind that solar radiation and warm temperatures can elevate…

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spring snowman skiing
Tips for Backcountry Skiing in the Spring

Tips for Backcountry Skiing in the Spring

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Ahhh springtime. The sun is shining, the birds have returned from hiding out down south for the winter and there are still plenty of good turns to be found in the backcountry. The snowpack can be quite stable this time of year if you tour at the right time, but you have to be a bit strategic about when and where you travel. Even though it feels like avalanches couldn’t possibly happen while the sun is shining, they most definitely…

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Backcountry Access (BCA) Tracker2 Avalanche Transceiver Review

Backcountry Access (BCA) Tracker2 Avalanche Transceiver Review

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The BCA Tracker DTS was one of the most popular avalanche transceivers in its day, and the Tracker2 is the next evolution of this device. Now with 3 antennae vs. the DTS Tracker’s 2 antennae contained in a lighter physical package, it’s easy to see the appeal of the Tracker2. BCA did a great job of keeping the desirable aspects of the old transceiver and improving upon its weaknesses in the Tracker2. BCA describes this transceiver as the ‘industry workhorse…

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mountain landscape
Early Season Avalanche Safety Refresher

Early Season Avalanche Safety Refresher

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I was lucky enough to get out into the mountains this past weekend for some early season powder turns, and was reminded of how complex the decision-making process can be in the backcountry. We ended up having two great days of skiing with no incidents, but I thought it would be worthwhile to remind readers of a few things that may have been forgotten over the summer to help keep everyone safe in the upcoming season. If you’re really new to backcountry…

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