Avalanche Gear – Transceiver, Probe, Shovel

Recommended practice time: 45–60 min

Introduction

Your core kit is transceiver, probe and shovel. This guide focuses on group checks, phased search (signal, coarse, fine), orthogonal probing and strategic shoveling.

Steps

  1. Group transceiver check
    Before departure: batteries >60%, everyone in send. One leader in search verifies all units.
  2. Search phases: signal → coarse → fine
    Signal search on a grid; coarse by following increasing signal; fine with cross pattern under 3 m—slow and low.
  3. Probe at 90°
    Insert probe perpendicular to slope; 25–30 cm spiral grid from the lowest distance; confirm depth/orientation.
  4. Strategic shoveling
    Start downslope from the probe at distance = depth/1.5; V-conveyor formation, move snow past the diggers’ feet.
Avalanche gear: group transceiver check, phased search, 90° probing and strategic V-shaped shoveling.
Sequence: check → search → probe → shovel.

Typical mistakes

  • Batteries below 60% or mixing rechargeables and alkalines.
  • Rushing the fine search—device held high, big swings.
  • Probing at an angle—misses the target.
  • Digging straight down at the probe instead of a strategic trench.

Questions

What probe spacing?

25–30 cm for single rescuer; 20 cm in complex layering or depths >1.5 m.

How many diggers?

As many as possible in a V until 5–6; others manage scene safety and gear.

Instructor’s tip

“Drill the protocol when it’s calm—you execute what you’ve practiced, not what you ‘know’.”

Conclusion

Speed is a product of discipline: clear search phases, perpendicular probing and planned shoveling. Train regularly with your team.