Do you have the right equipment in case of an avalanche?

With winter sports season being underway, you may have plans to head out into the elements, but safety is always first.

With the high avalanche risk in some area, it’s important to know what to do in case of an avalanche. Before heading out it’s important to check the avalanche danger. Apps like “Avalanche Forecasts” make it easy.

“When the avalanche danger is high, you can still go out and part of understanding avalanches is knowing the forecast. Before going out the first thing we do is look at the avalanche forecast to plan your ride accordingly,” says John Summers, Marketing Director, KLIM

The right equipment is essential. You’ll need an avalanche transceiver.

“This sends out a signal that if you get buried other people can pick up,” says Summers.

A probe.

“It can help locate the person that’s buried quicker.”

An avalanche shovel.

“There’s actually even techniques on how to dig so you can find the person that’s buried faster.”

And the avalanche backpack.

“If you get caught in an avalanche you can pull the handle and it expands and it gives your body more mass so you can float to the surface.”

But equipment is nothing without training.

“They’re built so well and have so much power now that’s they’re taking us out to areas with more avalanche danger, so it’s probably more important than ever that we do take the time to get trained on where we should or shouldn’t be riding based on avalanche conditions.”

There are training sessions all over. KLIM is holding a seminar tonight on avalanche safety. Those tickets are sold out.