6
7
If you are caught in an avalanche:
• Yell “avalanche” and wave your arms to alert your group.
• Try to escape the slide by grabbing trees or rocks or
‘swimming’ to the side.
• Try to keep your airway clear of snow.
• When you feel the slide slowing, thrust a hand upward in
hopes of it being seen.
• Place your other hand in front of your face to increase the
air space.
• Remain calm, breathe slowly and conserve your air.
Searching for victims:
• Do not go for help! You are the victim’s only chance of survival!
• Establish a last seen point.
• Confirm you are not in danger of a second avalanche
occurring.
• Look for visual indicators as clues to the victim’s location.
• Begin your signal search for the victim using your
avalanche beacon.
Always check your local avalanche forecast for an updated
rating of the avalanche hazard:
U.S.
www.avalanche.org
Canada
www.avalanche.ca
Europe
www.lawinen.org
N
S
E
W
Low
Moderate
Considerable
High
Extreme
Pockets of next danger level
Avalanche Awareness
Quick Reference
cut this page out for reference in the field
This quick reference page is an introduction to proper use of
the Tracker DTS. For more detailed information, read the entire
manual and consult our website: www.backcountryaccess.com.
Basic functions
On/off
: Push and turn the on/off switch on the back of the
Tracker to the "on" position. It turns on all LEDs, displays
battery power in percent, and enters transmit mode. Change
batteries well before they reach zero percent.
Search mode:
Push the red search/transmit button, hold until
"SE" is displayed, then quickly release.
Return to transmit:
Press the search/transmit button until "tr"
is displayed.
Searching with the Tracker DTS
The objective is to find the strongest signal (lowest distance
reading) and immediately begin probing the area.
In the event of a burial, switch your Tracker (and all other
beacons) to search mode. "SE" will flash in the distance
window until a signal is captured.
Signal search:
If there is a "last seen point," start your signal
search there, and search downhill. Otherwise, start your
signal search at the top, bottom or side of the slide path. Allow
a maximum of 20 meters between searchers or between
switchbacks if only one searcher. Slowly rotate your Tracker
back and forth until you engage the signal.
Coarse search:
Once a signal is engaged, align the Tracker
so that any of the center three lights are flashing and move
quickly in the direction the Tracker is pointing. Your direction
of travel might be straight or slightly curved. Make sure the
number in the distance display is decreasing. If it is increasing,
turn 180 degrees. Inside ten meters, move slowly and try to
keep the center search light engaged.
Fine search:
Within three meters, use your beacon close to
the snow surface and look for the smallest distance reading.
Ignore sudden fluctuations in distance and direction; the
strongest signal is often just past these fluctuation points.
Begin probing at the smallest reading (strongest signal).