RECCO

**mtbakerskier** · 04-17-2006, 07:56 PM

The slide today at Mamoth is a prime example of why the RECCO system is a very very good idea. This is the EXACT senareo that the system is designed and marked to gear manufactours for as it would allow rescuers to quickly locate any victims caught in the slide that happend to have a reflector on them.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 04-17-2006, 08:47 PM

agreed

789

**Tippster** · 04-17-2006, 08:53 PM

Gear manufacturers should simply start putting the reflectors in their clothing, jack up the price $5 and be done with it. Why leave it up to an uninformed individual to make a choice about something that has absolutely no negative side to it?

**orange** · 04-17-2006, 09:09 PM

Two of my three jackets have RECCO in them...It's just a good extra saftey feature. Gotta love my Sessions.

**H-wood** · 04-17-2006, 09:22 PM

Mammoth does have a Recco rig and I guarantee they busted it out today and did beacon searches as well.

I've been wearing my beacon a lot on the ski area the last couple of seasons, mostly on storm days (which I highly recommend). Ski patrol always does a beacon search first if there's an inbounds slide. I think might start beeping on the hill on bluebird pow days now too.

**fattwins** · 04-17-2006, 09:26 PM

but recco will also find cameras and other things in that slide path. the system still needs more work but it is a good idea that will just get better.

**mtbakerskier** · 04-17-2006, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by fattwins

but recco will also find cameras and other things in that slide path. the system still needs more work but it is a good idea that will just get better.

I believe that there is newer detectors that are now being implemented. Also, unless a photog has the camera out and is shooting, a camera will 99% of the time be found on the person (most people dont ski ride with there camera out, there almost always in a jacket pack etc), wich will only improve the chance that they will be found.

**BenWA** · 04-17-2006, 09:30 PM

Does anyone know of a list of ski areas online that use RECCO so far?

**PaSucks** · 04-17-2006, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by fattwins

but recco will also find cameras and other things in that slide path. the system still needs more work but it is a good idea that will just get better.

... so it will find me with my camera in my pocket? Sounds fine to me.

**BenWA** · 04-17-2006, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by BenWA

Does anyone know of a list of ski areas online that use RECCO so far?

nevermind, found one.

**mtbakerskier** · 04-17-2006, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by BenWA

Does anyone know of a list of ski areas online that use RECCO so far?

Here is the N.A. resorts:
http://www.recco.com/resorts/north_america.asp

go to www.recco.com and look under resorts to see the world wide lsit.

**cj001f** · 04-17-2006, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by fattwins

but recco will also find cameras and other things in that slide path. the system still needs more work but it is a good idea that will just get better.

It'll detect most anything with a diode in it, but the range is greatly reduced over the reflector. Cellphones are more common than a camera.

Would be nice if ski boot manufacturers started putting them in.

**mtbakerskier** · 04-17-2006, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by cj001f

It'll detect most anything with a diode in it, but the range is greatly reduced over the reflector. Cellphones are more common than a camera.

Would be nice if ski boot manufacturers started putting them in.

Atomic and other all ready do.

Squatch · 04-17-2006, 09:48 PM

i assume you can retrofit old stuff by simply stashing one in an interior pocket, correct? Seems like an easy fix for an older jacket.

**mtbakerskier** · 04-17-2006, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Squatch

i assume you can retrofit old stuff by simply stashing one in an interior pocket, correct? Seems like an easy fix for an older jacket.

Yep, I think that there in the $15 ~ $25 range, but I'm not sure. After this incident, I think that it is safe to say that there is no reason at all not to have at least one reflector on you, esp if you ski at areas that have a high anual snow fall.

**cj001f** · 04-17-2006, 10:08 PM

Unit price might drop enough with volume that you could put one in a day lift pass. They are cheap enough now you could put them in a season pass. Retail is $25 at mgear.com

Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

Atomic and other all ready do.

Behind the times on alpine boots I am. Tele and Rando boots do not currently.

**johannus** · 04-17-2006, 10:18 PM

yes, the transceiver and recco searches were implemented immediately at Mammy.

So, please consider wearing a transceiver or recco chip on those pow and/or wind-effected days. It will save a life... maybe yours.

bc · 04-17-2006, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

The slide today at Mamoth is a prime example of why the RECCO system is a very very good idea. This is the EXACT senareo that the system is designed...for

True, but I can't imagine being any safer wearing RECCO reflectors than the transceiver I already wear... But for those who don't, I agree.

**mtbakerskier** · 04-17-2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by bc

True, but I can't imagine being any safer wearing RECCO reflectors than the transceiver I already wear... But for those who don't, I agree.

How about if you forget to turn it on or forget to put new batteries in???? That stuff happens more often than most of us would like to think, so the RECCO system is still wroth having as a pasive back up.

Squatch · 04-17-2006, 11:30 PM

also recco reflectors are easier to pinpoint

edit: for summit being an assclown

**shirk** · 04-17-2006, 11:40 PM

I was given a RECCO tag by a friend here in WB, I stuck it to the bottom of my transciever. Ski every day with the transciever, so now both systems are covered.

**fattwins** · 04-17-2006, 11:53 PM

a refector is only 5 bucks so they arent that pricy. At my office we have 4 kits for testing. My boss tests and reports back to help improve the product. if they can get the size down it will be a great tool.

G · 04-17-2006, 11:57 PM

No doubt. This type of situation would be much less of a nail-biter if the Recco reflectors were in everybody's gear. It's an excellent systerm.

-But-

Don't rely on the Recco. Always wear your transciever! you will definitely be located faster. Response time is always longer for the Recco, because it doesn't get carried in the pocket of every patroller on the mountain. After an avalanche, the radar has to be located, transported to the scene, unpacked and activated before any bodies get found.

That said, who would like to get together and do a maggot group purchase on the reflectors?

bc · 04-17-2006, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

How about if you forget to turn it on or forget to put new batteries in???? That stuff happens more often than most of us would like to think, so the RECCO system is still wroth having as a pasive back up.

Nothing wrong with having an extra backup IMO. Haven't ever (knock on wood) forgotten to turn it on, and batteries last close to forever, plus I always have an extra set in case battery power gets below 50%... But RECCO is certainly still worthwhile. Faster to pinpoint, though? Didn't know that.