Another Live Recovery With RECCO

[Hacksaw]

Another live recovery with RECCO

On Tuesday, December 22ed, the Valmorel ski patrol used a RECCO detector to locate an off-piste skier buried under at least 1 meter of snow. At about midday the English skier and her brother triggered a slab avalanche on the Col des Mottets. The 20 meter wide by 300 meter long avalanche partly buried the brother to his waist and buried deeply his sister. Neither skier carried avalanche rescue beacons; however the woman had RECCO reflectors in her ski boots. The father used his cell phone to call rescuers.

The first ski patrollers reached the accident site and started to search with a rescue beacon and a RECCO detector. The RECCO signal was quickly detected and pinpointed. Rescuers uncovered the woman after a 20 to 30 minute burial. Suffering from mild hypothermia the woman was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital in Moutiers, where she recovered.

RECCO is advanced rescue technology utilized by more than 650 rescue organizations worldwide to facilitate the rapid location of burial avalanche victims. The two-part system consists of a detector used by organized rescue groups and reflectors that are integrated into apparel, helmets, protection gear or boots. Together they enable directional pinpointing of a victim's precise location using harmonic radar. The RECCO system is not a substitute for an avalanche rescue beacon. Complementary in function, the system is an additional tool for rescue teams that does not interfere with avalanche dogs, beacon searches or probe lines. The RECCO system facilitates a faster organized search and increases the chances of being found in time. Next time you buy new gear, make sure its equipped with RECCO reflectors.

[splat]

I'm impressed. I always considered the bulk of the Recco detector a body recovery tool more than a rescue tool.

[backcountryben]

me too! definitely cool that it saved someone! (i'm still skiing with my beacon though)

this woman sounds pretty lucky - 20-30 minutes is a really long time to be buried and survive!

I'm impressed. I always considered the bulk of the Recco detector a body recovery tool more than a rescue tool.

[Dendritic]

Great success story. 20-30 minutes is a long time to be under. I wonder if she did anything to help her survival.

[PNWbrit]

They're going to need a new slogan at this rate.

Recovers Extremely Cold Corpses Occasionally.

[Jonathan S.]

Another, or the first?
(I thought the article by Atkins didn't include any live recoveries?)

[bennettc14]

I put some reflectors on my boots, for the price it almost seemed like a no brainer.

http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/pr...tem/640258/N/0

[legallyillegal]

Options without a beacon:

a) RECCO
b) blindly poking holes in the debris field

[PNWbrit]

Options without a beacon:

a) RECCO
b) blindly poking holes in the debris field

Or perhaps something like....

"Oh it's ok to ski over there darling you've got those anti avalanche transmitters on your new ski coat"

The overwhelming majority of people who have them on their clothing have no idea or worse the wrong idea what they are for and can do. Try chatting them up about it on a chair lift. It gets really funny and very scary what they'll tell you.

[nesta]

Options without a beacon:

a) RECCO
b) blindly poking holes in the debris field

you forgot c) man's best friend

[Eastside]

you forgot c) man's best friend

Beats em all

[EC/BC]

isn't it true that practically no resorts / mountain rescue crews in the States have Recco detectors?

[AKturnanburn]

There was a live recovery in euroland a few years ago, I think it was after 45 min as well.

[dk_alaskan]

isn't it true that practically no resorts / mountain rescue crews in the States have Recco detectors?

false...

[jahroy]

isn't it true that practically no resorts / mountain rescue crews in the States have Recco detectors?

squaw definitely does.

[jahroy]

Alpental, WA
Alpine Meadows, CA
Alta, UT
Alyeska, AK
Arapahoe Basin, CO
Arizona Snowbowl, AZ
Aspen Highlands, CO
Aspen Mountain, CO
Bear Valley, CA
Beaver Creek, CO
Big Sky, MT
Breckenridge, CO
Bridger Bowl, MT
Brighton, UT
Copper Mountain, CO
Crested Butte, CO
Crystal Mountain, WA
Deer Valley, UT
Eldora Mountain Resort, CO
Grand Targhee, WY
Heavenly, CA
Jackson Hole, WY
June Mountain, CA
Keystone Ski Resort, CO
Kirkwood, CA
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, NV
Lookout Pass, ID
Loveland Ski Areas, CO
Mammoth Mountain, CA
Mission Ridge, WA
Moonlight Basin, MT
Mount Baker, WA
Mount Bachelor, OR
Mount Hood Meadows, OR
Mount Washington Avalanche Center, NH
Mt. Ashland, OR
Mt. Rose, NV
Park City, UT
Schweitzer, ID
Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Snowbasin, UT
Snowbird, UT
Snowmass, CO
Solitude, UT
Squaw Valley, CA
Stevens Pass, WA
Sugarbowl, CA
Sundance Resort, UT
Sun Valley, ID
Taos, NM
Telluride, CO
Teton Gravity Research, WY
The Canyons, UT
The Yellowstone Club, MT
Vail, CO
Whitefish Mountain Resort, MT
Wolf Creek, CO

[snoboy]

Who has Recco in N. America???

Edit: Woah - simulpost! My link has the SAR groups as well, and includes Canada...

[old goat]

Hard to argue against RECCO. With more and more jackets etc having RECCO reflectors it will start getting interesting for patrollers who will have to keep chasing the gawkers with RECCO reflectors away so they can look for the victim.

[IrieRon]

I haven't showered in a month. You'll find me.

[summit]

you forgot c) man's best friend

If available.

[farmer]

so thats 2 so far?

none the less, i'm really glad to hear this. Well worth it every time it saves a life, as most people (unfortunately) no shit all about avy's, and wont gett educated and buy the gear. At least this gives them a slightly higher chance.

[User Name]

this is very reassuring to hear. I had hoped to buy a beacon or avalung last season but ended up finding a jacket with Recco at the browse and buy knowing that this is by far the most efficient (ie cheapest) way to protect yourself in the backcountry. can't beat $15!

[Bite Me]

Alpental, WA
Alpine Meadows, CA
Alta, UT
Alyeska, AK
Arapahoe Basin, CO
Arizona Snowbowl, AZ
Aspen Highlands, CO
Aspen Mountain, CO
Bear Valley, CA
Beaver Creek, CO
Big Sky, MT
Breckenridge, CO
Bridger Bowl, MT
Brighton, UT
Copper Mountain, CO
Crested Butte, CO
Crystal Mountain, WA
Deer Valley, UT
Eldora Mountain Resort, CO
Grand Targhee, WY
Heavenly, CA
Jackson Hole, WY
June Mountain, CA
Keystone Ski Resort, CO
Kirkwood, CA
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, NV
Lookout Pass, ID
Loveland Ski Areas, CO
Mammoth Mountain, CA
Mission Ridge, WA
Moonlight Basin, MT
Mount Baker, WA
Mount Bachelor, OR
Mount Hood Meadows, OR
Mount Washington Avalanche Center, NH
Mt. Ashland, OR
Mt. Rose, NV
Park City, UT
Schweitzer, ID
Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Snowbasin, UT
Snowbird, UT
Snowmass, CO
Solitude, UT
Squaw Valley, CA
Stevens Pass, WA
Sugarbowl, CA
Sundance Resort, UT
Sun Valley, ID
Taos, NM
Telluride, CO
Teton Gravity Research, WY
The Canyons, UT
The Yellowstone Club, MT
Vail, CO
Whitefish Mountain Resort, MT
Wolf Creek, CO

Where's Okemo? Apparently the list is incomplete.

[Graham]

this is very reassuring to hear. I had hoped to buy a beacon or avalung last season but ended up finding a jacket with Recco at the browse and buy knowing that this is by far the most efficient (ie cheapest) way to protect yourself in the backcountry. can't beat $15!

FTW!!!!!

[lemonhead]

Its great to hear that they were able to save somebody using recco, but I hope this doesn't inspire more "oh I can ski that because avalanches can't hurt me know type of attitude."