Thread: Missing Snowboarders - Mt Bogong - Avalanche Pinger

I think it's a device for detecting avalanches, I'm pretty sure it's set up by the snow fields in areas prone to them, don't quote me on that though.

These guys had an EPIRB with them also, sadly it wasn't activated, the first snowboader found was only 10mtrs from their camp, so must have been pretty sudden to catch them out.

Baz.

The pinger doesn't detect avalanches. It allows you to be found by others if you 'detect' one. There are passive reflectors made that are often sewn into clothing, and there are active transceivers that can send a signal through the snow detectable by rescuers above you.

These two were probably relying on each other for rescue if one of them got caught. Sad.

Here you go:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche_transceiver

Pretty much a must have in the backcountry, but it won't stop you from getting buried.

I guess it is a crying shame that they were in such a remote area with virtually no one else around.

Garry

Absolutely. But they were allegedly very experienced and would have been well aware of the risks.

We might never know, but I assume that they got comfortable and a little complacent and rode the same questionable slope together at the same time. A temptation almost impossible to resist, I imagine.