Essential Rescue Equipment
There are four essential tools to facilitate the search and recovery of avalanche victims: an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and a communication device with which to contact outside help. These are basic required equipment for each individual backcountry traveler.
Optional personal safety equipment includes airbag packs and gear with RECCO® technology. An avalanche airbag is designed to reduce the likelihood of burial. Gear and clothing equipped with a RECCO® reflector can make a buried victim easier to find by professionals with the necessary search equipment. The reflector is not a substitute for an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel.
Avalanche Transciever
Whether you own or rent one, your transceiver should be a digital model with three antennas. Purchasing a used transceiver is not recommended, as they are fragile electronic devices requiring care and maintenance. Know the history of your own device: how old it is, if anyone has borrowed it, and when the firmware was last updated. Refer to the user manual for details specific to your transceiver and don’t forget to check the battery level each time you enter the backcountry.
Know how to properly wear your transceiver. Keep in mind electronic devices such as cell phones, cameras, radios, and even battery-heated electric gloves can impair your transceiver’s ability to transmit or search. Keep these devices at least 10 inches away from your transceiver while traveling in the backcountry. Turn off all electronic devices, including phones, digital cameras, and snowmobiles prior to beginning a search. Make sure to store your transceiver in a dry, room temperature environment and treat it like any other fragile electronics you may own.
Shovel
Three key things to consider when selecting your avalanche shovel: blade size/shape, handle configuration, and material composition.
Blade size/shape: It is a misconception that bigger is better. You can only move so much snow as a human, regardless of how strong you may be. Moving more small to medium sized blocks of snow is much more efficient and ergonomic than moving fewer larger blocks. A blade no greater than 30cm across will also generally fit into most packs easily. Shape, either curved or flat is more a matter of personal preference. If you like to dig a lot of profiles, a flat blade gives cleaner walls. However, a curved shovel will often fit better in smaller packs.
Handle Configuration: Most shovels now come with telescoping shafts, and there is little weight penalty for the extra length. You will be glad you have it when you need it. The handle (T or D) is also a matter of personal preference, but may determine whether your shovel can be converted into a "hoe" for modified shoveling techniques.
Material Composition: One word- Metal. Plastic will not stand up to the impacts of cutting and chopping. The tool was designed for digging a person out of an avalanche, not winning a Skimo race. Aluminum shovels do have points of failure, particularly when prying or stepping on the flange to drive the blade into hard debris. However, these failures are uncommon and the lifespan and reliability of metal shovels in much greater than any high-end plastic shovel could ever claim.
Probe
A well-constructed avalanche probe is critical to the rescue process. It should be easy to deploy, have a reliable locking mechanism, and it is extremely beneficial to have high-viz depth markings along its length. An appropriate size for most recreational users to carry is 260cm or greater. Some models more geared toward professional use are 320cm. Shorter models are somewhat of a disservice to your partners and there is negligible weight difference between the minimalist 180cm and recommended 260cm. Aluminum is the most common material, but carbon is coming into play more and more. With a carbon probe you do save weight. However, you must be more conscious of striking the probe with a shovel blade, whether placing it in your pack or shoveling fast and effectively towards the end of rescue practice, a misplaced swipe can damage it irrevocably. Easy to read markings (cm) will come in handy for determining burial depth of a companion, and for use in snow profiles to identify depth of a critical weak layer.
Communication Device
Once you have rescued someone, you are only at the beginning of an evacuation process. Your group needs to be able to reach outside resources in the event of a backcountry emergency. If you are in a place where you know you have cell service, this would mean ensuring everyone in the group has appropriate numbers for emergency services. Know your locale. In backcountry areas that are remote or span more than one county, it may be better to call a Sheriff directly.
For areas without cell service, a satellite communications device may be necessary. These options are becoming easier to use and more affordable. Two-way messaging, tracking, and SOS are common features found in these devices. Proper setup and testing is required before using the device in the field, and all require a subscription to a service. Satellite phones are also available, but often much more expensive than these other devices.