ackcountry Access (BCA), one of the world?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s leading manufacturers of high quality avalanche safety equipment, is recalling their newest transceiver the Tracker2. While issues with the Tracker2 surfaced in the previous few months prior to the onset of winter, it has been the regular use of the Tracker2?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s by the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol (JHSP) that have brought to light issues that could leave backcountry travelers with a malfunctioning safety tool while traveling in avalanche terrain. Recently, the JHSP has sent back their fleet of transceivers to BCA for updated software, and the Tracker2 has been pulled off many retail shelves where the product was being sold.
Beacon failures in the backcountry are one of the most significant hazards that every backcountry snow slider must mitigate to the highest degree. But what if it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not the users fault? What if it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s the manufacturers fault? It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s alarming to think that these beacons have been eating up battery power far faster than they should. This has been one of the main malfunctions in the Tracker2. BCA Vice President Bruce Edgerly said this problem might be higher with those who carry their beacon in a pocket as opposed to the beacon harness. Really? Should that be a users problem that just paid 300+/- dollars for a product that is supposed to either help save their own life or another?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s life in the case of an avalanche accident?
It should be noted that not all of the Tracker2?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s have been found to be a potentially malfunctioning product, and that BCA distributes beacons to more than just your average Joe backcountry skier and the JHSP. Huge resorts like Big Sky in Montana and Squaw Valley in California also use BCA transceivers. However, with the main problem being this so called inadvertent shift in the beacon to what?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s called ?¢‚Ǩ?ìopticomm reprogramming mode?¢‚Ǩ¬ù, which essentially should only happen after a hard boot like taking out the batteries, we have to ask ourselves what?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s really at stake here?
What would happen if you put fresh batteries in your beacon, were many miles from civilization in the backcountry enjoying fresh new snow, and your beacon stopped working? What would you do if your beacon was in the off position and started beeping? What if the display randomly showed numbers or decimal points, then just quit on you and wouldn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t work anymore? These are heavy questions because they have happened with the Tracker2. In the scheme of things if my beacon doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t work and I get buried are you going to find me? How would I find you if you got buried? If I put new batteries in my beacon should I constantly be worried that it still might not work?
This past October snow scientists, snow enthusiasts, and snow industry icons from all over the world converged on Squaw Valley for the 2010 International Snow Science Workshop (http://www.issw2010.com). Among the many rich presentations that took place over the week was one workshop that focused on ?¢‚Ǩ?ìthe big loss?¢‚Ǩ¬ù JHSP, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and the greater community faced when Mark Wolling, better known as Big Wally, was killed during avalanche reduction efforts at the ski resort the previous winter. During this presentation, which was both uplifting and equally devastating, attendees heard a brief synopsis of the avalanche event that took place as well as the resulting program changes that JHSP planned for implementation during the 2010-2011 season based on this unfortunate accident.
Among the many things critically examined by the Ski Patrol was the use of avalanche transceivers or beacons as some snowriders like to call them. JHSP went through a great deal of testing and deliberations before making the call to revamp their whole operation with new Tracker2 Beacons made by BCA. For those of us who use avalanche transceivers frequently the original Tracker has been hailed as the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìeasiest?¢‚Ǩ¬ù beacon to use in dire backcountry scenarios. Because it follows a signal digitally, as opposed to the sometimes more tricky analog flux lines, the Tracker has been called ?¢‚Ǩ?ìidiot proof?¢‚Ǩ¬ù. If someone is buried in an avalanche and you have last point seen simply turn the beacon to search mode with one flick of a switch and follow the corresponding arrows, beeps, and numbers to locate the victim.
At ISSW this fall I sat in on several discussions of new things being done to make beacons better like more consistency and accuracy with multiple burial searches, greater range of searching and receiving, and the benefits of multiple antenna to name a few. Perhaps that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s why it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s so alarming and surprising that BCA has just announced a recall of its Tracker2.
If you have a Tracker2 and want to test it try removing then putting back one battery from the beacon while it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s in the off mode. The beacon should then display ?¢‚Ǩ?ìt2?¢‚Ǩ¬ù followed by the software version, then ?¢‚Ǩ?ìr04?¢‚Ǩ¬ù if the transceiver is up to date. If you get an ?¢‚Ǩ?ìr01?¢‚Ǩ¬ù, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìr02?¢‚Ǩ¬ù, or ?¢‚Ǩ?ìr03?¢‚Ǩ¬ù you need to send your beacon in for an update.
The potential hazards are high with malfunctioning avalanche technology and while a beacon is no substitute for good observations and safe travel and skiing plans when you are in the backcountry there?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s still no excuse for being out in the elements at this day in age of technology with a product that is not bombproof. BCA is currently taking returns on all Tracker2?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s and upgrading them. Call 303-417-1345 for more specific instructions or go to their website, http://backcountryaccess.com, if you have a Tacker2 and need to send it back. All Tracker 2?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s shipped in late December through now should have the updated software in place, but make absolute sure you have it first before putting yourself and your partner(s) safety on the line in the field.
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