Check Your Avalanche Beacon Before the First Day of the Season

Your avalanche beacon spent the summer in a closet, a garage, or the bottom of a pack. Before you head into avalanche terrain this season, take 15 minutes to make sure it still works the way you need it to. A beacon that fails a check at home is an inconvenience. A beacon that fails in a burial costs time your partner doesn't have.

Start with the basics. Install fresh batteries of the type your manufacturer specifies (usually alkaline, not rechargeable). Check the battery compartment for corrosion, and look over the case, harness, and buckles for cracks or wear. Power it on and let it run its self-test. Check the manufacturer's website for firmware updates and service recommendations, especially for older units. Then test with a partner: confirm it transmits and receives, check range in search mode, and run a few practice searches, including a multiple-burial scenario. Remember to keep phones, radios, and other electronics away from your beacon, both when transmitting and when searching.

Your gear check is only half of it. Rescue skills fade quickly without practice, so get out early in the season and run drills with the people you ride with, and make a beacon check at the trailhead part of every day. If you want structured practice, join one of Avalanche Savvy's Companion Rescue courses for skiers, split-boarders, and snowmobilers. Contact us at info@avalanchesavvy.com or (720) 282-5155.