Avy Light Saber for Location

**drowninsnow** · 10-27-2014, 06:57 PM

Okay I am probably out of my mind. I saw a kid playing with one of those toy light sabers with retracting tubes. And I had an idea: if you were to maintain a record of the skiers orientation, detect a fall, reposition the device to be perpendicular to the snow surface, and trigger a similar mechanism as the light saber (or more generally some sort of flare) to eject out of the snow this might help with location. The force required to project such a device out of the snow does not seem to be that unreasonable.

Granted that digging the person out is the toughest part and that dog friends and beacons do work pretty well, it's just an idea...

"May the Force be with you"

**F#*k you cat** · 10-27-2014, 09:05 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3Iapth75I

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yG3Iapth75I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Already been done

**Name Redacted** · 10-27-2014, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by F#*k You Cat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3Iapth75I

Already been done

So much can be learnt from McGyver.

**DasBlunt** · 10-27-2014, 09:23 PM

Ever probed/shoveled avalanche debris?

Not the soft stuff you supposedly imagine for a probe to be erected from....strange idea BTW.

**huckbucket** · 10-27-2014, 09:26 PM

^^^
Ha!! Fuck you very much for making me watch that.

**drowninsnow** · 10-27-2014, 09:44 PM

I love McGyver

Originally Posted by DasBlunt

Ever probed/shoveled avalanche debris?

Not the soft stuff you supposedly imagine for a probe to be erected from....strange idea BTW.

I've never actually probed avalanche debris, just practiced out on the mountain. Probing strictly snow (no branches) roughly how many pounds do you think you must exert?

**summit** · 10-28-2014, 07:21 AM

You know what refrozen snow plow debris feels like? That can be a good facsimile...

However, a real light saber would make one hell of a cornice cutting tool!

Why not use the Force to do avalanche control work? Obi Won Kenobe, Master Jedi Ski Patroller!

**drowninsnow** · 10-28-2014, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Summit

You know what refrozen snow plow debris feels like? That can be a good facsimile...

However, a real light saber would make one hell of a cornice cutting tool!

Why not use the Force to do avalanche control work? Obi Won Kenobe, Master Jedi Ski Patroller!

Wow I didn't expect the debris to be that hard. I guess bc of the slide friction and refreezing it solidifies more than I thought.

Haha avalanche control would have a blast!

Originally Posted by cmcrawfo

... I can't wait to hear what other fantastic ideas you have regarding subjects you know little to nothing about. Welcome to the forum Jong.

When you read the thread subject what did you expect and why did you bother scrolling down to read? I'm sorry, yes, it might be a stupid idea, and yes I have no idea what settled avalanche debris feels like and that does frighten me a little.

**My Pet Powder Goat** · 10-28-2014, 10:42 AM

Do everyone a favor and stay out of the BC, JONG.

**vaquero** · 10-28-2014, 10:55 AM

Dude, McGyver rips!

**_Aaron_** · 10-28-2014, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by cmcrawfo

... I can't wait to hear what other fantastic ideas you have regarding subjects you know little to nothing about. Welcome to the forum Jong.

Screw this. Get some education and experience and keep thinking outside the box and keep posting. A good new idea will save more lives than a new beacon.

**neck beard** · 10-28-2014, 07:27 PM

Personally I don't think very fresh avalanche debris is quite as hard as people are making out. Yet, this is still a bad idea.

By the way, I conduct my own mobile direct action avalanche control program with a shotgun.

**BigHerm** · 10-28-2014, 08:51 PM

Loved the red bibs.

**drowninsnow** · 10-29-2014, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by _Aaron_

Screw this. Get some education and experience and keep thinking outside the box and keep posting. A good new idea will save more lives than a new beacon.

That's my goal - out of 100 ideas 99 will be bad but 1 will stick!

**splat** · 10-29-2014, 11:00 AM

Two pounds of C4 in my vest pockets and a dead man trigger is enough to blow the snow away from me in an avalanche. Got it all totally McGyver'd to my gopro for a tr.

**bsavery** · 10-29-2014, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by neck beard

Personally I don't think very fresh avalanche debris is quite as hard as people are making out. Yet, this is still a bad idea.

It can't be nearly as hard as a door.

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wi...htsaberjpg.jpg

**Cocximus** · 10-30-2014, 04:49 PM

spetsnaz knife?

**BigHerm** · 10-30-2014, 09:40 PM

I need to learn Russian. What the hell was that shooting?

**neck beard** · 10-30-2014, 10:34 PM

dunno, but it doesn't cut bread very well.

**philth** · 10-31-2014, 11:09 AM

HAHhahahahahahah true that. It was like cutting bread with a stick.

**schindlerpiste** · 10-31-2014, 11:25 AM

Nice air pocket.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 10-31-2014, 03:26 PM

Watched some of that MacGiver clip, that his stunt double is backseat as fuck. Or is it just his old school downhill racer technique?

**schindlerpiste** · 10-31-2014, 04:28 PM

Back in the day when they were skiing that shit with 64mm underfoot, they actually knew how to ski. If they spent much time in the back seat, they ate it.