View Full Version : How long is your probe?
Toddski
01-11-2005, 03:04 PM
Sorry I have to ask such a personal question, but...how big is your probe? I need to get one. I generally go for the lightest, most packable gear that's reasonably priced, but in this case I want to make sure the length of my pole is adequate. Looking at the Life Link 196 and Black Diamond 190, but I don't want to sell myself short..no pun intended.
Are the two I'm looking at ok?? Any other suggestions on what probe to buy?...it will be strictly an East Coast probe yo!
Thanks
I have a Life-Link "Carbon Probe 280"
Rider.Steve
01-11-2005, 03:18 PM
Are the two I'm looking at ok?? Any other suggestions on what probe to buy?...it will be strictly an East Coast probe yo!
Thanks
Check out the Leki Lawisond Extreme Ski Poles/probe. They screw together end-to-end to create a probe, can be used as a camera mount, and for measuring snow slope to boot. Haven't used mine as a probe yet, but they're a very nice for everything else so far.
http://www.telemarkski.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=J2135-03!lek01&csurl=%2FiStar.asp%3Fa%3D3%26dept%3D009%26class%3D 008
Steve
Check out the Leki Lawisond Extreme Ski Poles/probe. They screw together end-to-end to create a probe, can be used as a camera mount, and for measuring snow slope to boot. Haven't used mine as a probe yet, but they're a very nice for everything else so far.
http://www.telemarkski.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=J2135-03!lek01&csurl=%2FiStar.asp%3Fa%3D3%26dept%3D009%26class%3D 008
Steve
Careful - I have a pair of life link probe poles...
They were too long to deal with in my pack for descents... Plus they werent all that long as a probe...
PS: Hope you never have to use that probe!! We spend a lot of money on stuff we hope we never use...
el-bagr
01-11-2005, 03:26 PM
A fine question. I think your "strictly East Coast" comment is important. IMO, those are both fairly short -- my probes are 260cm, and I've heard people (admittedly in UT) say 300cm is the shortest they'd go.
Beware ski poles (and shovel handles) that can be used as a probe. They don't work as well as dedicated probes do.
This is the sort of stuff where it's easy to say, "Geez, that's pricey... I'll hold off for now, or get something a bit less nice..." It's also the sort of stuff where when you need it, you'd usually give all your life savings to have what you need.
Toddski
01-11-2005, 03:53 PM
Yeah, I'm happy with my trekking poles...happy with my shovel..just looking for a good simple probe that folds down small. So It sounds like I should be looking into the 260 range.
I didn't even want to get into girth, but it seems to me that our avalanche debris is a bit more chunky and tough to get though. Is there such a thing as the perfect East Coast Probe?
Justin
01-11-2005, 03:56 PM
A fine question. I think your "strictly East Coast" comment is important. IMO, those are both fairly short -- my probes are 260cm, and I've heard people (admittedly in UT) say 300cm is the shortest they'd go.
I think mine is 260 too -- but am unsure.
Beware ski poles (and shovel handles) that can be used as a probe. They don't work as well as dedicated probes do. I'm with el-bagr on this one - stay away from the poles.
230....oh, you meant avalanche probes....
elwood
01-11-2005, 04:22 PM
The title of this thread is deceiving. Here I was gonna brag a little bit, then I find out you are talking about avalanche probes...
mainwaring
01-11-2005, 05:19 PM
todd,
i understand you might be thinking of shaving some weight, or that a 270ish probe might not normally be necessary in our EC cover, and these are both valid points.
hypothetically, if someone gets buried in a runout area that is convex with a large volume release, i.e. creates a deeper burial area, a longer probe will definitely be in order.
does that mean that getting a 270 or greater probe hypothetically guarantees you'd reach your target? no, but considering the relative weight of the entire probe itself and especially versus the savings...a couple of oz's, i'd say play it safe and go for something closer to the 270 range.
mainwaring
01-11-2005, 05:22 PM
and as to the guage issue, i think probes are fairly standard. could be wrong, but pretty sure they are all pretty close in diameter. just make sure the end is spiked to break thru debris...which, again, i think is pretty standard.
Length and Girth aren't as important as knowing how to use the thing.
<rep me now>
M@
skiyak777
01-11-2005, 07:24 PM
Mine's 260- I figure if someone is buried deeper than that, they're going to be dead by the time I dig them up anyway, so I can wait for the pros with the long probes.
Toddski
01-11-2005, 08:41 PM
Length and Girth aren't as important as knowing how to use the thing.
Exactly, let me switch phallic symbols for a second. Let’s say I what to carry a concealed handgun for the sole purpose of self defense. Chances are I will never need to shoot a mugger, and what’s the likely hood that I’ll find myself in some hostage situation where I get to be Clint Eastwood and rescue woman and children? It ain’t ever going to happen!….but it could, you never know how life will turn...so I decide to carry a gun. Conventional wisdom would dictate a long slide Colt .45 for stopping power. But is it practical to carry something that big? A little .38 snub nose revolver would do the same thing...even though I might need an extra pull of the trigger?
V10? V8? V6?
So when it comes to probes, I’m not sold on the fact bigger is better. Is a slightly longer avy probe some magical wand that will shoot though the snow and find a buried victim with one plunge?! I don’t think so. Beacon, shovel and probe are the three tools that should work together to locate…I guess that’s why I can’t justify carrying a 300 or even a 260. When the underling factor is TIME, time and energy throughout a journey, not just the moment of rescue, a lighter, and more unobtrusive pack makes more sense to me in the long run. Silly that I’m hung up on a few grams but I want to put it in my pack and forget about it as opposed to leaving it in the truck on a questionable day.
..still have an open mind…thanks for the response guys!
I’m going to rule out carbon fiber however.
el-bagr
01-12-2005, 08:43 AM
I didn't see any comments above on carbon except DMC saying he had one, but I'm with you on ruling it out. I ski with carbon fiber poles about half the time, and I am always somewhat concerned. When I hear about carbon fiber and ski poles, I can't help but think of Jeff Douthitt, who died on Teton Pass when his Life-Link carbon composite pole/probe snapped and severed his femoral artery. While Life-Link and BD said it wasn't a design flaw (http://www.jhnews.com/Archives/FeatureArchive/2001/011212-feature.html), and that it could have happened with aluminum just as easily, it's still something to keep in mind.
Affix Snow
01-12-2005, 08:43 AM
Length and Girth aren't as important as knowing how to use the thing.
<rep me now>
M@
Repped.
Otherwise, Thanks for bringing this up Toddski. I hadnt thought about too much about it.
Me order one soon.....or maybe i shouldnt cause then we will never get any snow :mad:
Rider.Steve
01-12-2005, 11:23 AM
...so I decide to carry a gun.
Gun? What a man (or a lady for that matter) needs is a Powder Gun!
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/605/1606fish-med.jpg
Kidding aside, excellent thread topic and responses. I need to get Level 1 avi training under my belt this year along with the tools.
If probes require some tough judgement calls, beacon selection seems downright complicated!
Steve
Huckasaurass
01-12-2005, 11:36 AM
Kidding aside, excellent thread topic and responses. I need to get Level 1 avi training under my belt this year along with the tools.
If probes require some tough judgement calls, beacon selection seems downright complicated!
Steve
I agree 100%..I need the training as well as equipment, however the selections are giving me a headache. What's the best as far as beacons go? What's the easiest one to use? Soo many questions...
Matt
What's the best as far as beacons go? What's the easiest one to use? Soo many questions...
Just search for the thread... We've been over this...
Huckasaurass
01-12-2005, 11:39 AM
Just search for the thread... We've been over this...
yeah but there is still soo many choices, ranging from price to features ya know.....just make them all the same...LOL
MAtt
yeah but there is still soo many choices, ranging from price to features ya know.....just make them all the same...LOL
MAtt
I use an BCA Apline Tracker... It's basically idiot proof... But there are some things you have to think about... Like multiple victims... Flux lines... etc...
Others use the Barryvox - they are pretty easy to use as well...
If you take an avi class chances are they will have a variety of transceivers to use and then you cna make up your mind...
As far as probes go... I'd get a long one... Maybe you wont need it in the East... But you may need it for that British Columbia trip...
Affix Snow
01-12-2005, 11:48 AM
As far as probes go... I'd get a long one... Maybe you wont need it in the East... But you may need it for that British Columbia trip...
Or to fish your beacon out of the outhouse :crap:
el-bagr
01-12-2005, 11:55 AM
As much as it's been discussed before, having a beacon and knowing it could save your (or my) life. Two easy words: BCA Tracker. Other beacons have better range or more advanced features, but if you don't practice much or have much beacon experience, the BCA Tracker is the easiest to use.
Huckasaurass
01-12-2005, 11:56 AM
I use an BCA Apline Tracker... It's basically idiot proof... But there are some things you have to think about... Like multiple victims... Flux lines... etc...
Others use the Barryvox - they are pretty easy to use as well...
If you take an avi class chances are they will have a variety of transceivers to use and then you cna make up your mind...
As far as probes go... I'd get a long one... Maybe you wont need it in the East... But you may need it for that British Columbia trip...
Wish I was actually headed out to BC, but I think the snow is falling way lower in the rockies so that's where im headed...feb 2-7...copper, a-basin, brek, and Keystone....spoke with KMRN, she's gonna give me the "local" knowledge and actually ski with me if you can believe that.
Anywho. Thanks for the info, I think like you said i can make a decision after I take a class and "experience" some of whats out there.
Matt
Toddski
01-12-2005, 12:45 PM
feb 2-7...copper, a-basin, brek, and Keystone....spoke with KMRN, she's gonna give me the "local" knowledge and actually ski with me if you can believe that.
Yeah, I need need to take the avy 1 course too. It's something I keep putting off every year. Fooling around in the Whites since a teenager and living for 4 years in Arapahoe Basin with many safe out of bounds adventures and midnight runs down Loveland Pass...plus having an avy rescue as a roommate in Colorado has given me somewhat of a real world education... But there is always room for more wrinkles on my brain, so I will take a class.
Matt- you are going to have a blast out in Summit County! Drink lots of water, get a steak at the MINT (if its still there), and go to A-basin early so you can catch the guns go off on the East Wall! BOOM.....SWISH! ... Also see if you can find one of the hidden "safety" shacks to the right of Pallavicini...oops that's a secret, never mind.
Thanks huckurass! now I'm all depressed that I'm not in CO...back to playing with my dumb short east coast probe!
Wish I was actually headed out to BC, but I think the snow is falling way lower in the rockies so that's where im headed...feb 2-7...copper, a-basin, brek, and Keystone....
ABasin has some awesome gate accessed BC of the backside...... Hitchhike back to the resort...
Whenever I go out west - I always wear my transceiver... Overkill...??? maybe... But it makes me feel comfrtable...
Huckasaurass
01-12-2005, 01:01 PM
Yeah, I need need to take the avy 1 course too. It's something I keep putting off every year. Fooling around in the Whites since a teenager and living for 4 years in Arapahoe Basin with many safe out of bounds adventures and midnight runs down Loveland Pass...plus having an avy rescue as a roommate in Colorado has given me somewhat of a real world education... But there is always room for more wrinkles on my brain, so I will take a class.
Matt- you are going to have a blast out in Summit County! Drink lots of water, get a steak at the MINT (if its still there), and go to A-basin early so you can catch the guns go off on the East Wall! BOOM.....SWISH! ... Also see if you can find one of the hidden "safety" shacks to the right of Pallavicini...oops that's a secret, never mind.
Thanks huckurass! now I'm all depressed that I'm not in CO...back to playing with my dumb short east coast probe!
Yeah im like super psyched. I've skied most out there but its been SOOO long since I have it'll be like new again. I havent live in CO since 90-91 so lots have changed im sure.
Thanks for the "locals" tips I will surely keep an eye out and I can always use a good STEAK....
I will TR for sure when I return.
Matt
Huckasaurass
01-12-2005, 01:04 PM
ABasin has some awesome gate accessed BC of the backside...... Hitchhike back to the resort...
Whenever I go out west - I always wear my transceiver... Overkill...??? maybe... But it makes me feel comfrtable...
No way I dont think its overkill. Im sure its standard procedure out there to search for avie beacon signals even if you went out alone. if I had one i'd wear it....out there anyway.
I soo can't wait for Feb 2-7 i'm giddy with anticipation.
Matt
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