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 Since
the early 1970's, Mt. Rose has performed avalanche-control work in the
Chutes as well as other avalanche-prone paths on the
Mt. Rose Hwy under an agreement with the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Although the possibility of an avalanche in extreme terrain such as the
Chutes can never be entirely eliminated, the extensive knowledge gained
from this thirty-year tenure is key in preventing major snow slides. Blasting
essentially helps to minimize danger by forcing small slides before they
have the chance to grow into hazardous build-ups. Adding the technology
of the Avalauncher to the arsenal of existing control measures dramatically
reduces the risk of unpredictable slides. Skier traffic into the area will
further stabilize these slopes by providing strength to the snow pack through
compaction.
RECCO is an electronic avalanche rescue system for the location of avalanche victims equipped with passive transponders (reflectors). The system is composed of the DETECTOR and the REFLECTOR: The detector or search equipment (made up of both a transmitter and a receiver) is used by the organized ski patrol. The detectors are positioned at the summit rescue stations within the ski areas, and thanks to their small size and lightweight (only 1.6 kg), they are easily and rapidly brought to the avalanche site. The reflectors are small electronic transponders, consisting of a copper aerial and diode. They do not require batteries (passive system), and are integrated into skiwear, and ski boots. Skiers or snowboarders are thus permanently equipped with reflectors. It is recommended to wear one reflector on the jacket and one on the trousers, or one reflector on each ski boot. Reflectors are available at the Ski Patrol Office (top of Northwest Magnum 6 for $20. The RECCO system is intended for skiers and snowboarders moving within or in the vicinity of a ski area, where the alert time is short and the ski patrol able to intervene rapidly. The RECCO system operates on the frequency doubling principle. The detector transmits a directional radar signal. When hitting a reflector, the frequency of the signal is doubled and returned to the detector. When this new signal is received by the detector, the search person will perceive a tone in his earphones, facilitating an exact localization of the avalanche victim. The RECCO system does not prevent avalanche accidents, nor does it guarantee the survival or the localization of an avalanche victim. Always respect prevailing safety rules and regulations. Need an avalanche training class? Click
here for more info
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