Need advice from mountain people

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sledheadprox2

Member
Got hook on mountain ridding last year.
I need too buy a beacon, backpack,an goggles.
What is the best, get one one line, haydays, or used.
Do not have any idea what i need or what to look for.
I usually search any thing too death on the net but have no
idea what i'm looking for, make model, some advice would be great.

Thanks

Think Snow!!!!
 
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Iowarider

Member
Backpacks, shovel, and probes can be picked up at a decent price at Hay Da ys. Several brands available along with goggles. Not to sure about the beacons but I am sure you can get them there.
 
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fgsacts

New member
Our group uses BCA Tracker beacons. Ease of use and priced fairly. I would not purchase a used one unless you know the person you were buying it from. Your life may depend on it never having been dropped, etc. Get a sturdy probe. Plenty of different brands. Most avalanches result in hard packed snow, even ice. Same reason to get a metal shovel, not plastic. Here is a link to Mike Duffy's website. He makes some gear suggestions. He would be a great guy to contact for more info or questions. I also highly recommend taking his class.

http://www.avalanche1.com/
 
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bird21

New member
I took his class at the Milwaukee snow show, very good info. I suggest you take it. As far as Goggles that would be your choice. I run and open helmet with Smith and Scott goggles. I have three packs depending on the conditions.. 1. ABS pack for high Avy danger days. 2. HMK pack for normal days.( Use this one the most. 3. A little back pack made by FLY for light spring days.Cause it has the water bladder. I really like the HMK and use it the most. Get metal shovel mine is SOS.

Beacons I have two just in case someone forgets theirs. Beartracker I think????????


Klim gear Pants and Bibs.

Klim powder cross parka for warm days.

HMK pull over for cold days with layering of other garmets.

My favorite is my Klim Inversion jacket I took the sleave of and use it as my third layer before my pull over. I wear this from fall till spring the best vest I have ever worn.

A tek vest.

And most important a rubber band around the kill switch you will find out the hard way on a big climb if you don't do this trick.

I learn more every year so be patient and ask questions, and have fun I am also an addict!!!
 
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nitroman

New member
Our group also has the BCA Tracker beacons make sure your group practices with them each ride and new batteries every day it's cheap insurance! Snobigdeal will do a package deal for you and they are great to deal with. X2 on Duffy's class it's a good one. Head over to the western riding forum that's where all us mountain addicts hang out and feel free to ask questions lot's of years of mountain riding expirience on here to help you out. Welcome to your new addiction!
 
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polarisrider1

New member
cuzzinolaf had a pretty good list of what to have last yr. maybe someone can locate his list.
BCA Tracker, Klim wear with extra gloves and socks, compass, gps, etc. shovel, probes etc. As fo places to buy the gear. you can get pkg. deals on Ebay, Novi, Haydays, RUOutside.com , Snobunje.com is were I get a lot of my stuff. Get a snobunje with extra straps and don't bother with the D-ring model. I carry a block and tackle that works with the snobunje and a folding saw too. Krupps has the best price on folding saws.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Goggles are a tough item to choose such you don't get to try them out before you buy. I own 6 prs. that way. Big dollars doesn't mean they work better. What fits your face works better. Lens colors? got them all. Amber works for me. My favorite goggles are my cheapest pr. I own. Scott OTG with nose guard. Make sure you get a tec vest also. I can't say enough about tec vests.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
Everyone else pretty much covered it. BCA tracker is the easiest to use, which is important when your in panic mode, looking for a buried friend. Metal shovel, no plastic, and make sure the handle extends a good ways onto the shovel head. You don't want the handle attached at the very end, where leverage could cause the handle to snap off. Make sure your backpack can accommodate your shovel. DO NOT carry it on the sled. It does you no good if you become separated from the sled, in a slide. Take a class for sure and MAKE your riding buds take it with you. Remember a beacon does not save your life, its the other people with beacons that do. Also make sure your buds have good quality shovels, not just you. All the best gear in the world does you no good if your the one buried. Your life depends on the people your riding with!! Happy addiction. Once you go mountain you never go back:)
 
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lookin4snow

New member
I have a Survival on Snow pack that I bought at Haydays that I really like. Many who have seen it like a lot of the features. Here is the link:

http://www.survivalonsnow.com/

Do a quick search on here and you will find some pretty good lists of things to put in your pack for survival gear.

When it comes to the three primary safety items: beacon, probe, and shovel; buy good items that you are comfortable with as your riding partners are counting on YOU to use them well to save them.

BCA Tracker is widely known as the easiest beacon to use. For the ocassional mountain rider I would recommend buying this. Others have more useful features, but with the features comes complexity in using the device. Again, your buddies are counting on you to find them and you have limited time, so get one you are comfortable with, and practice using it often.

You don't need to buy a grain shovel, but buy one big enough to move some serious snow. Pass right by all of those real small shovels. Make sure that the handle goes through the shovel for sturdiness and durability and avoid any that just attach at the end of the shovel.

You can easily spend $500 to buy the required safety items so budget for them.

Good luck and have fun getting everything pulled together.
 
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sledheadprox2

Member
Thanks for all the info everybody. I will start too look at all the different
ideas and see what I can come up with.
With haydays almost hear I might check out every thing online,
then go too hayday and see what deals they have.

Thanks again!

Think Snow!!
 
eagle1

eagle1

Well-known member
What about physical shape? That's my biggest worry. I started 2 miles on the treadmill this spring, so my cardios better. Is that enough?
 
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carter

New member
Carter Sez.....

Tech, you better get after this guy. Remember all the things we talked about and how it helped you. One thing, for everyone, this beacon thing, if you buy a beacon for price you already made a mistake. The beacon you buy should be as easy to use for you as breathing. Absolutely automatic.... Learn it and practice, practice, practice, get the Idea!!!! The one thing I've learned is in a stress situation you WILL go blank from fear. The actions you take from there put you on auto-pilot and you have to function in order to save your buried friend. Mountain riding is the most awesome thing going. DEEEEEEEP powder riding, Wow, but you have to think. I'll try to answer all questions on conditioning and other things as they are asked. Or PM me and off we go. It's cold here today. Woke up to 41. Sled still in storage. Trying to get to Hay Days...More later...
 
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techsledder

Member
eagle1 said:
What about physical shape? That's my biggest worry. I started 2 miles on the treadmill this spring, so my cardios better. Is that enough?
Click to expand...

Where do live at sea level? Going to what altitude? Biggest altitude acclimation thing Carter taught me was DRINK YOUR WATER! Before and during your trip out West. You doing cardio will help, but your body still has to adjust to a climate with MUCH thinner air / less oxygen / a dryer environment. It will be working hard to adjust to all that. Best way to combat that is to drink AT LEAST one gallon of water starting a month or two ahead of your trip out. Clear and copious urine is generally a sign of adequate hydration. Then try to drink as much while you're out there riding.

If you're going to Togwotee, you'll be sleeping/living and riding above 8000 feet for days. IT takes it's toll. Keep hydrated, especially for us flat-landers! Not getting filled up with water you'll cramp up, get real bad headaches or worse suffer Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). Do a Google search on it....
 
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Firecatguy

New member
techsledder said:
Where do live at sea level? Going to what altitude? Biggest altitude acclimation thing Carter taught me was DRINK YOUR WATER! Before and during your trip out West. You doing cardio will help, but your body still has to adjust to a climate with MUCH thinner air / less oxygen / a dryer environment. It will be working hard to adjust to all that. Best way to combat that is to drink AT LEAST one gallon of water starting a month or two ahead of your trip out. Clear and copious urine is generally a sign of adequate hydration. Then try to drink as much while you're out there riding.

If you're going to Togwotee, you'll be sleeping/living and riding above 8000 feet for days. IT takes it's toll. Keep hydrated, especially for us flat-landers! Not getting filled up with water you'll cramp up, get real bad headaches or worse suffer Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). Do a Google search on it....
Click to expand...

I eat alot bannans I get leg cramps for some reason
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
Call me crazy...

Backpack –
1. 2 pairs of gloves
2. Socks
3. 2 pairs of extra goggles
4. Beanie hat
5. Hand warmers
6. Swedish Firesteel (fire starter)
7. Parachute Cord
8. Stainless steel cup
9. First aid stuff
10. Shovel
11. Saw
12. Excedrin/Asprin
13. Warm weather liner for my Klim helmet
14. Toilet paper
15. Heetsheet
16. Emergency Sleeping Bag
17. Tampons (excellent fire starter if dipped in gas)
18. Torch lighter
19. Flare gun
20. Power Bars
21. Instant Oatmeal
22. Beef jerky
23. Chocolate
24. Extra under garments on those cold days
25. Leatherman Tool
26. Batteries
27. Matches
28. Chapstick
29. Cell Phone
30. Strobe Light

On Sled -
1. Spare gas
2. GPS
3. Snow Bunje
4. Tools
5. Flashlight
6. Compass
7. Tow rope
8. Glow stick
9. Duct tape
10. Different sizes in zip ties
11. Local trail maps
12. Hand warmers
13. Water/Gatorade
14. Red ribbon
15. Bolts
16. Hand warmers
17. Gloves
18. Goggles
19. Wire
20. Pipe Clamps

I am sure I'm missing some stuff LOL

And a beacon, probe and someone in our group has a Spot type tracker out west
 
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