Michael Smith of the Northstar Ski Patrol provides insight into the tips and traps of avalanche transciever rescue techniques. A must read for anyone venturing backcountry

• Range Awareness.
• Reception Strength Setting.
• Search Pattern.
• Orientation.
• Eliminate Territory - FAST, FAST, FAST.
• Speeding Things Up - Loudspeakers and Induction Line Tangent.
• Classic Fine Search Pattern
• Pin Point Search Pattern
• The Schizophrenic F-1s
• Confusion
• Digging.
• Practice, Practice, Practice.

Summary of the Avalanche Beacon Test "LVS-98"
After 1990 and 1994, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos organized another international comparison test for avalanche beacons. The test "LVS-98" was carried out under the auspices of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR). Financial support was provided by the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (cap). Various alpine clubs and organizations (from Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland) participated. The tests were necessary to obtain a clear picture of the quality of the new types of beacons, all of which have mostly digital type optical search aids.