In a joint endeavor, Breckenridge Ski Resort Ski Patrol and Backcountry Access, manufacturers of The Tracker avalanche transceiver, have created
Beacon Basin, a beacon practice area on Brecks Peak 8.
Beacon Basin is a mock avalanche debris site that features seven buried avalanche transmitters, providing a practice area for beacon and probe work in bounds at the resort. The area is approximately 100 feet by 100 feet in size and is located north of the Vista Haus on Peak 8, near the top of the Colorado SuperChair lift. Brecks new Beacon Basin is the only existing transceiver
practice site of its kind located in Colorado.
Backcountry Access is a Boulder-based company that manufacturers a variety of equipment for backcountry travel. They are credited with the creation of the first dual antennae digital transceiver in the industry, The Tracker.
“Weve been working with Backcountry Access, the manufacturer of the avalanche transceivers used by Breckenridge Ski Patrol, since last spring to create an area for skiers and riders to practice using a beacon and probe pole, said Will Barrett, Breckenridge Ski Patrol avalanche specialist.
“With all of the accessible backcountry in this area, we want to encourage anyone thinking of skiing out of bounds to take all available precautions. That includes learning to use a transceiver and a probe pole.”
Breckenridge Ski Patrol will prepare the area each day, activating a new combination of the buried transceivers-anywhere from one to seven at any one time. There are probe poles available on-site, for performing a more specific search once a transmitter area has been located. Skiers and riders are asked to bring their own beacons for practice, as no beacons will be provided. The buried beacons are simply transmitters attached to a 16 inch square board, not full tranceivers, so they do not feature both transmit and receive options and are for training purposes only; they will not work in the backcountry. Skiers and riders may utilize their beacons for a general search and the probe poles for a more defined search, however patrol asks that users leave the transmitters buried. This allows other users to practice throughout the day. Ski Patrol also asks that people interested in utilizing the practice area sign in at the entrance gate logbook prior to use.
“We encourage anyone interested in backcountry skiing or riding to come up, practice and then stop by the Peak 8 Patrol Hut located on the lower level of the Vista Haus with any questions, added Barrett. “You can have the best equipment in the world but if you dont know how to use it, its basically worthless.”
