With most of Canada enjoying temperatures that are higher than seasonal this year, one must consider the effect on the snow pack before setting out on any adventures.  The best place to get current  avalanche warnings and bulletins is on the Canada Avalanche Centre’s website:  www.avalanche.ca.  Once your trip is planned, it’s time to consider your gear.  There are some essential pieces to your gear that are equally important as a seatbelt in a car, or a helmet for your motorcycle.

When a person is buried in an avalanche, mere minutes can mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful rescue.  Consider these three items as the bare minimum for your mountain adventures:

• Avalanche Transceiver – is a small electrical device that is worn by everyone in the group.  The device emits a signal that can be tracked.  In the event of an avalanche, those not buried would switch their devices to “search mode” to seek out lost members of the group.
• Probe – is used to find the person once the Transceiver has got you close to their location.  With varying diameters and materials, it is important to get one that is durable enough for your adventure.  Some of the preferred features are: carbon material, 320cm units, and measurement markings to tell how far under the surface a person is.  Recently there have been electrical probes that work in conjunction with the transceivers.
• Shovel – may just seem obvious, but not all are created equal.  Plastic becomes brittle in cold weather, so there is a need to balance quality with weight.  An extendable handle and a flat top that can be used to step on are two of the main features to look for.  Once you have your shovel, take some time to perfect your technique.  One of the widest accepted techniques is the V-Conveyor Strategy.

Backroad Mapbooks wishes everyone a safe winter on the mountains. As always, we look forward to seeing your pictures and stories on our Facebook page.