Items to bring: Avalanche probe and avalanche transceiver.

This is how it works. A person grabs their probe and beacon and goes to the control panel located on the telephone pole within the roped search area. Three ability levels can be selected, Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert. If the user selects beginner, one target in the search field will start pulsing like a simulated buried victim. Intermediate will start two targets, and expert will start an unknown number of targets between one and four. Once your ability has been selected so does the clock.

Start your search, use your step downs, and probe the area where the target is buried. When the searcher makes a probe strike, lights flash, sirens sound, and the time is recorded. When all targets are found the siren sounds three times to let the searcher know they have completed the exercise. This helps users practice with their equipment something that has been difficult to do in the past. WBR sees this as a practical education tool and our hopes are that it saves lives. Backcountry users need to know how to use their equipment and take an active approach in learning about the mountains they are traveling in.

To learn more about Wasatch Backcountry Rescue please visit their website.