Avalanche Beacons 101
By Elizabeth Szoke
Backcountry skiing can provide some truly untouched powder, unbelievable runs and solidarity—and the risk of an avalanche. That’s why avalanche beacons are one of the most important things to carry with you when you ski. A properly used beacon could make the difference between life and death. We asked the experts for their advice on how to get the most out of your beacon.
DON’T: Put your beacon in a jacket pocket or in your backpack.
DO: Carry your beacon in either the chest harness provided by the manufacturer, or in an internal pants pocket. “The motion sensor in the [Mammut] beacon only works correctly when it’s against your body, and in an avalanche, equipment can get torn off,” says Dave Furman, Mammut’s hardgoods category manager.
“You wear the chest harness above your baselayer and below all other layers, so there is almost zero chance of it being torn away or lost in an avalanche,” says Todd Walton, an Ortovox spokesman. “It offers an easy way to store and access the beacon quickly as well, and keeps it out of the way while being active and comfortable.”
DO: Turn off electronics, or at least keep them away from your beacon. While it varies by beacon and brand, most manufacturers recommend keeping electronics at least 15 inches away from your beacon. Electronics create an electromagnetic field, causing interference with the beacon. “The best practice is to turn off all electronics. Each manufacturer has releasing statements on the range for how close electronics can be,” says Ryan Guess, the North American PIEPS snow safety equipment specialist.
DON’T: Use lithium or rechargeable batteries in most beacons.
DO: Use alkaline batteries in most beacons. “Lithium and rechargeable batteries have less predictable discharge through their lifespan than alkaline batteries,” Walton says. “The goal is to have the best performance without any doubt in charge, reliability or power issues.”
DON’T: Use old lithium batteries in Mammut’s Pulse beacon.
DO: Use fresh lithium batteries in Mammut’s Pulse beacon—the only beacon that can use lithium batteries [This was confirmed]. “The Pulse uses a timer,” Furman says. “People can only start with a new set of batteries. The beacon automatically detects the type of battery and it will know the battery life span. For this reason, you can’t, for example, take lithium batteries out of your headlamp and put them in the beacon.”
Read more at: https://www.skimag.com/adventure/avalanche-beacons-101