Wearing A Beacon in-bounds at the Ski Area? - Page 6

I think the context up above is clear, but whatever, I obviously shouldn't have posted in the thread to begin with.

After the things I've seen this season, and the record snowfall, I put my beacon in the top drawer of my dresser right next to the polypro. I put on the base layers first, then socks, then beacon, then pants, belt, shoes, hat and I'm out.
People look at me funny at the gas station, but once you've seen an avi fatality up close, you'll never be without a beacon again.

I was actually partially buried in an inbounds avi this season. Our main chair, chair 1, has been having problems all year, it's brand new btw (doppletec) anyway it went down early in the day and never reopened so we started hiking from chair 4 to get to the upper mountain. At about 3:30 in the afternoon we made it through Fault 1 to Elkweed and into Haskill Slide, which is a fairly steep run if you've skied it, and it had been absoultely nuking all day long. Because of the closure nobody had skied it for 24 hours and the snow had piled up close to 20" deep on top of scraped off snow from the day before. I dropped into the gut of the main chute that is far skiers right, had the run of my life and my buddy followed. I got to the bottom and was just slowing up to pick my way through the tight glades at the exit when I got hit from behind by my friend's sluff, only it wasn't just sluff it was a real avalanche that picked me up and slammed me into a stand of trees, luckily I was only scratched up and buried to my chest, but for a minute there I thought I was a goner, snow was flying over my head. I was completely helpless at this point and my friend above me is freaking out because he thought he just slammed me into the trees and buried me as he could see all this going on below him but couldn't see me after I got swept into the gladed area. Needles to say this scared the crap out of both of us. So, you're not a pussy for wearing a beacon inbounds, you never know what can happen.

Uh, sorry. Duly noted. Answer = damn few.

A small inbounds slide happened once again in Fernie today. There's been no real fresh snow for a couple days now, but the wind has been howling, The whole mountain is wind groomed to perfection with lovely sift everywhere. There apparently is a lot of wind loading happening too. We were on our second lap through upper Cedar bowl and there a patrol putting up the rope closing the upper portion of the bowl. She pointed out a slide in the usual spot next to Blueberry. She said a couple people got dusted by it but nothing serious. As usual the patrol did a beacon sweep of the slide.

You just never know. I think this year the avi guys have shot off more bombs than the US did during Desert Storm and there are still inbounds slides occurring. If your skiing avalanche terrain wear a beacon!

They budgeted $500,000 for avi control this year. They may well have spent it already. Snowing like mad at the moment!

I often wear a beacon when skiing in bounds. And I don't wear one because I am worried about being buried in an avalanche either. I don't believe there has ever been an avalanche at the resort I have a season pass to. I wear one because I ski alone 99% of the time and I am a fairly aggressive skier. I worry more about hitting a tree or something like that.

Last year a guy I knew who was probably the best all around athlete that I have ever personally met was killed in a skiing accident while skiing in bounds on a groomed run. Not that a beacon would have saved him but he might have been found sooner if he had one.

After the death earlier this year at Deer Valley in bounds my wife asked me to get one. She's a worrier. So I also put the Recco stickers on my boots and helmet. These things may not be a factor in saving my life but they may be. They will more than likely though, help someone find me quicker if I am unconscious or dead.

I know it is not cool and that I am a total gaper but who cares what you all think of me anyways. I say do what you want and can afford to do. Whatever brings piece of mind to yourself and your loved ones is worth it in my opinion. Accidents happen and happen fast.

Yeah, if you're reported missing patrol couldd do a sweep through the glades or rocks with beacons in search mode. That would certainly be quicker than searching every tree well and nook and cranny on the mountain.