Preseason Avalanche and Safety Gear Inspection

With winter approaching, it’s a good time to look over your avalanche rescue gear and other safety equipment. A preseason check can reveal damaged gear, prevent equipment issues in the field, and help refresh rescue skills. Do this at home, while there's time to address any problems—not at the trailhead on your first backcounty mission of the winter. Here’s what you should inspect when it comes to your transceiver, probe, shovel, helmet, and avalanche airbag pack.

Avalanche Transceivers (Beacons)

Use a modern digital, three-antenna transceiver. Older units may need servicing or replacement based on their condition and manufacturer recommendations.

• Batteries: Install fresh, manufacturer-approved batteries. Avoid rechargeable replacement batteries unless specifically approved for your model.
• Condition: Check for cracks, screen damage, and loose components.
• Controls: Test the Off, Send, and Search switches. Make sure the display and audible indicators work and that each mode engages reliably.
• Function check: Confirm your beacon transmits and receives properly.
• Range check: Verify transmit and detection range following your manufacturer's instructions.
• Updates: Check your manufacturer's website for firmware updates, recalls, and service intervals. See also the Canadian Avalanche Association's safety notices.

Prevent electronic interference when using a beacon in both send and search modes. Phones, radios, cameras, magnets, and metal objects can affect transceiver performance. Keep potential interference sources at least 20 cm (8 inches) away in Send mode and 50 cm (20 inches) away in Search mode. Check where you carry your phone and other electronics.

Avalanche Probes

For the deeper snowpacks of the Cascades, use a dedicated probe (not some skimpy one that fits in a shovel handle) that's at least 270 cm long.

·        Deploy it: Practice assembling the probe quickly.

·        Inspect it: Look for bent or cracked sections, damaged connections, and frayed cords or cables.

·        Lock it: Make sure the tension and locking mechanisms engage securely, with minimal play between sections.

·        Check details: Inspect the tip and depth markings. A deployed probe should be rigid enough to penetrate dense avalanche debris.

Avalanche Shovels

Use a sturdy metal avalanche shovel with an extendable handle.

·        Assemble it: Connect the blade and fully extend the handle.

·        Test the locks: Check that all connections lock securely and release smoothly.

·        Inspect it: Look for bent or cracked components and excessive wear, particularly where the blade connects to the shaft.

·        Dig with it: When snow arrives, practice digging in firm snow to identify problems that a visual inspection might miss.

Avalanche debris can be dense and difficult to excavate. Your gear needs to hold up under heavy use when push comes to shovel.

A well loved shovel with a cracked blade. Might make a nice wind chime, but no longer adequate rescue gear.

Helmets

Use a helmet designed for your chosen activity and regularly inspect it for damage. Helmets that look similar may meet different safety standards, so check their certification labels.

·        Check: the shell, foam, padding, and adjustment system for cracks, dents, or wear.

·        Test: the chin strap and buckle; confirm a secure fit.

·        Follow: manufacturer recommendations for replacing helmets after an impact or extended use.

Common helmet standards include:

·        Downhill skiing and snowboarding: EN 1077 or ASTM F2040

·        Snowmobiling: DOT FMVSS 218 or applicable Snell standard

·        Ski mountaineering and touring: EN 18100:2025

Some helmets meet multiple standards. Check manufacturer guidance for older touring helmets; EN 12492 alone is a mountaineering certification, not a ski-specific one.

Mips and similar systems are designed to reduce rotational motion during certain angled impacts, but no helmet eliminates the risk of head injury.

Avalanche Airbag Packs

Maintenance varies between compressed-gas and electronic airbag systems. Refer to your model's manual.

·        Inspect the pack: Check fabric, stitching, zippers, buckles, and the airbag compartment.

·        Check the fit: Test the waist belt, chest strap, and leg loop.

·        Inspect the inflation system: Verify the trigger and connections. Check cylinder condition or electronic battery charge and system status, as applicable.

·        Test deployment: Follow manufacturer procedures, then check the inflated bag for damage or leaks.

·        Reset: Repack correctly and recharge or refill the system so it is ready for use. For compressed-gas packs, know where you can obtain a replacement or refill.

9 out of 10 is good, unless you are Joe who's airbag pack barely inflated on the soft end of the scale.

This is why we test these things before the start of winter.

A Few Final Reminders

Replace aging or damaged equipment. Follow manufacturer guidance and retire gear when its condition or performance warrants it.

Practice with your own gear. Deploy your probe, assemble your shovel, and conduct transceiver searches wearing gloves and with the equipment you actually use. Repeat with any new or unfamiliar equipment.

Make checks routine. A preseason avalanche beacon inspection doesn't replace a trailhead transceiver group check before every trip.

Above all, rescue gear is a backup plan, not a reason to accept more risk. Careful planning, sound terrain choices, and good decisions are the best ways to avoid needing it.