Avalanche probe
An avalanche probe is used to locate a buried victim in the avalanche cone . Together with an avalanche transceiver and an avalanche shovel, it is part of the standard equipment of every ski tourer , freerider or mountain rescuer .
If you search with the avalanche transceiver first , the avalanche probe is only used to precisely locate the victim. The probe can be used to determine both the location and the exact depth of the burial. The avalanche probe is particularly useful for spontaneous avalanches in ski areas or for people buried without an avalanche transceiver. In such situations, search parties are called in to search the avalanche cone at short intervals in a grid-like manner.
During the search, the avalanche probe is normally stuck vertically into the snow, following gravity, until one has reached the ground or the length of the probe. There are several search strategies for close-range searches or for larger search groups as part of organized mountain rescue . A bit of skill and practice is required to decide whether you have located a victim or just encountered natural forms such as snow, layers of ice (harsh), rock or the ground. You orientate yourself on the consistency of the probed material (resilient, hard, adhesive). In cases of doubt, continue exploring the area and start excavating.
Avalanche probes are also used on backcountry freestyle descents to examine landing zones for hidden rocks as a precaution.
The avalanche probe consists of several elements that are usually connected to one another by a cord. If you pull on this cord, the elements quickly interlock. Now you have to fix the assembled probe and it is ready for use. This system enables you to put the probe together very quickly in an emergency and not have to carry around individual parts. The person carrying out the probing should wear gloves to prevent the probe from heating up and causing snow or ice to stick and make probing difficult.
Avalanche probes are usually made of aluminum , titanium or carbon . Thus, probes are generally very light and flexible. A scale is drawn on the elements so that one can assess the depth of the buried subject. A probe is usually between 2 and 4 meters long and weighs approximately 200 grams. The mountain rescue service also uses heavier avalanche probes with steel segments that can be screwed together .
In addition to classic avalanche probes, there are also probes with integrated electronics, which have an audible and visual results display, and compatible found transceivers into sleep mode ( sleep mode ) offset can, which can bring substantial benefits in multiple burials.
literature
- Peter Geyer, Wolfgang Pohl: ski mountaineering - freeriding (= alpine curriculum vol. 4). blv, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-8354-0074-0 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ PIEPS iPROBE II | Pieps.com. Retrieved June 12, 2019 .