bcoasis

Quote: This is a very short time if you factor in the confusion, organisation, search, and digging Indeed it is a very short time. It's also a very humbling experience groveling around on av debris - an entirely different ballgame than practicing on normal snow. One point which I consider to be very important and something which by my observations on the mountain seems to be taken for granted,is group leadership. Even among well travelled 'buddies' it's necessary to discuss what the plan is and who is taking the lead. This saves a lot of time if the 'shit hits the fan'. Someone has to take

No, I don't use one - not because I don't think they are worthwhile though. I am very much in the school of thought that prevention is better than the cure and although we all make mistakes anything I do which is 'dodgey', I only do it with people I absolutely trust who are on the same 'program' and it's a very 'tight ship'. I think it's very important to focus on the basic safety equipment and learn the function as a second nature as oppossed to 'more is better' with marginal comprehension.

The quad was closed so Kagura never got out of the starting blocks. Nice day today though but I havn't heard how it was.

'self denial' about there being bc riding going on and so long as it's existence is ignored - you don't have to deal with it.

As far as I am aware, Arai Ski Area is the only ski field in Honshu which employs a suitably qualified ski patroller who would have the knowledge and experience to post such warnings. Any ski area using National Park land is treading on thin ice so far as condoning bc access via their facilities which has prevented a lot of them from facing the current reality.

He's a reasonably interesting article from practical experience which you might find interesting. http://www.wildsnow.com/articles/avalung/avalung_review.html

That's an old model one dizzy; the new one is stripped down and basically just a strap around unit something like 'vest gun holster'. As for how effective they are - very, if you get it right. By 'right' that means keeping your mouth clear and the mouth piece of the avalung clear of snow and just as the snow is starting to slow and settle, get the avalung into your mouth as you take one last deep breath.

I think it's inside but I fully stand to be corrected on that Toque. It's been quite a few years since I have had anything to do with them and they were making the transition to the stripped down model then.

This is just a quick note to those heading this way in the next day or so, regards snow accumulation. There has been a huge amount of snow fall within the last 72 hours and looks likely to continue for a further 24-48 hours. There has been no sun and very little settling in this time. So I am suggesting caution even out of course under the ropes and keeping close attention to your riding buddies. Extra attention to each other as terrain features which normally would not be an issue may very well cause problems with this amount of snow.

I look funny when I ski anyway dizzy, regardless of accessories! Actually, there is said device - it's called an Avalung. Started out being a pack and has now developed into a stripped down version of the essential components only so as to be easily worn within your jacket. Give about 15 mins of air but requires a WELL PRACTICED TECHNIQUE to use it effectively. They are not so expensive and I have seen a few 'gear freaks' with them in Japan. I say gear freaks because I know for a fact that the people that had them are incapable of effecting a beacon search so I can safely assume they wouldn't

For all intents and purposes you have 15 minutes at the 35 minute mark there is a 27% chance of a victim being alive. So much for stats, as far as I am concerned it's 15 minutes max and the real target time is 10 minutes or obviously less. The victim will almost certainly be unconcious after 6 minutes unless they did everything right such as the method dizzy mentioned and were lucky. A lot depends on if they hit anything on the way down such as trees or rocks. Most importantly whether or not they took a 'gob' full of snow as they come to rest; in which case 3-4 minutes is about all they have.

5 smashed vertebre and a bruised sense of humour.

If in fact the guide went for help - that would basically amount to criminal negligence. Obviously I wasn't there but regardless of how close help is by leaving the scene to go for help not only ignores one of the most critical rules of an avalanche rescue but almost certainly sentences the victim to death. The only reason I can see for that action is if they were not carrying any equipment in which case the negligence stands. Seems to be a bit going on at the moment, lots of snow accumulating very quickly.

I think it's 'Ski Movie', the first one, Toque. I lent my copy to someone a few years ago and have never had it returned so I can't remember exactly. I'm pretty sure the bamboo with the ribbon is a tracer. The chopper pilots can feel where the wind is coming from by the way the chopper is flying and so far as marking a route, that's already well scoped by flyovers. However, I am not Dean Cummings and I wasn't there so all is open to interpretation.

Actually I have heard of this - pretty old school and sounds like a piece of advice you would get on a chairlift from a Japanese ojisan. Having said that, the first Matchstick Productions ski movie; if you watch Dean Cummings segment - that is exactly what he has poking out from the top of his pack. I think they are called a 'tracer'.