Monday, March 24, 2014

ACMG Advocates Climbers Carry Avalanche Gear- Lynn Martel


ACMG Advocates Climbers Carry Avalanche Gear- Lynn Martel

Rating- **** Excellent

There are many avalanches where people are buried and they’re not carrying the right avalanche safety gear so they can be saved.

The ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) recommends that ice climbers and mountaineers carry avalanche safety equipment when there is an avalanche hazard present.  The avalanche safety equipment includes a beacon (transceiver), a probe and a shovel.  Ice climbers, mountaineers, skiers, snowboarders, rock climbers and some snowmobilers should carry this equipment because you have no way of knowing how long it will take rescuers to reach you.  You have a greater chance of survival if you are wearing a transceiver and have the gear to perform a self-rescue.

Before reading this article I had never heard of avalanche safety gear.  Whenever I have the opportunity to go skiing or climbing in an avalanche area I will know to carry avalanche safety gear.

I believe this type of safety gear will save lives.  When you have a shovel I could dig myself out and the others too, with the probe and the beacon I will be able to find others.

Martel, Lynn. ACMG Advocates Climbers Carry Avalanche Gear, Gazette Alpine Club of Canada. Spring 2014 Page 18. Vol. 29, No. 1

No comments:

Post a Comment