[TripleXtreme]

I guess the biggest is to know your equipment and your limitations.
Just because your riding buddy can climb that hill, can you? really?
Yup, you just bought a brand new transeiver, brand new batteries, shovel and probe pole. Kewl! but now, I am going to bury my beacon and I want you to locate it in 3 minutes.... Can you do it? really? After about 3 minutes, Your buddy/wife/husband will be pretty upset if they come out in a bodybag. I am not saying this to doubt anybodies abilities, but to prove a point. I have come across alot of riders that have all the cool equipment but batteries are dead, or the best one "I just bought it last night and haven't had a chance to practice with it". Uhhhh, yea.... don't practice on me! I want someone who knows what to do looking for me. Sleddin' Daddy and I practice EVERYTIME we go ride. We will even borrow eachothers and play in the backyard! I will have my son go hide mine and I'll look for it.

Don't Climb 2 machines at a time. Only one machine at a time on the hill. If he gets stuck... well... sucks to be him.... that hill may hold his weight but will it hold 2 of you?

Look for obvious signs of previous avy's. Are the trees in your path young and the trees around the hill older? Good sign.....

Are cornices broke? is there alot less snow on your hill than other hills with the same aspect? Good sign.....

Are there whomping noises? Cracks in the surface? Good sign....

You can also get into weather forcasting like, What was the weather like before this 2 new feet of snow was laid down? Was it warm? is there an ice sheet under this pristine fluff? Was it colder than hell and left some good surface hoar to act as ballbearings under this new pow? Is it warm and the surface is slushy and wet and can cause a wet slide?

I can go on and on but this is a good start to what I think will be a good conversational thread.

Scott
Ogden, Utah
Weber County Search and Rescue