Sounding (mountain rescue)
When probing the screening is called an avalanche cone by means of avalanche probes . It is an important part of the search for avalanche victims , which is used either alone or in addition to other search methods ( avalanche transceiver , RECCO or rescue dog ).
If only avalanche probes are used, a search party will walk slowly forward in a narrow row, probing at every step.
Used in combination with other search methods, the sounding serves to determine the position of the buried subject more precisely after pinpointing . This can significantly shorten the recovery time because it avoids digging past the victim or digging an unnecessarily large hole.
Systematic fine-tuning
A systematic approach is very important when probing, as it can be probed efficiently and completely. The first puncture point should be in the middle of a ski pole cross laid out for pinpointing . The sticks are then pierced in turns at a distance of about 20 cm and in the spaces between the sticks. The picture shows schematically the procedure for systematic probing. The black lines symbolize the cane cross, the red points are the puncture points when probing. If nothing is found within the cane cross, it is important not to stop at the end of the cane cross, but to think of the canes as being elongated and to continue probing them systematically.