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Show Page B4 Thursday, January 5, 1988 Park Record HBsttckeoumtiry Ibeat Talking transceivers by DAVE SCROGGIN ParkWest Snow Safety, Red Pine Barkcountry Rescue As Greg pointed out last week necessary equipment when ski touring tour-ing the backcountry includes a transceiver and a shovel. Transceivers, commonly referred to as "Pieps" (which is a particular brand) are the most effective way to locate an avalanche victim. (Forrest, (For-rest, the ParkWest avalanche dog, who double checks all my work and OK's all my decisions, just sent me a disturbing glance. Granted, Forrest can find a buried victim as fast as a practiced ski patroller, with a transceiver. But first the notification notifica-tion must make it to the patrol shack and then the dog has to be transported to the scene. This is precious time. A searcher with a transceiver could have located and dug the victim up already. Sorry to break this news to you, Forrest). Anyway, as I was saying, a transceiver is very effective. At least 19 lives have been saved in the U.S. with these devices. In fact, I recommend to my friends who frequent fre-quent avalanche prone ski areas to carry them, even in the ski area. Ski patrollers carry them as standard issue and will always search a burial site with them whether they know the victim was wearing one or not. Avalanche transceivers cost $80 to $200. The device is worn next to the user's body and transmits a radio brequency. When the skier becomes a victim of burial, friends on the scene switch their transceivers to receive and locate their buddy. Easy. Off to more turns, right? Wrong. Avalanche transceivers are like musical instruments. If you don't practice, you sound like noise. If you are expecting one of these things to save a life and you are not practicing with it, at least weekly, you're playing play-ing games with your friends' lives. Practice sharpens your skills and also helps you discover defective equipment. When your buddy is five feet under, you have about five to 10 minutes to locate him. It will take you 20 minutes more to dig him out. Did you know that the transceiver picks up your quartz watch? Or that the third notch on receive doesn't work anymore? A 10 minute practice prac-tice session would have clued you in. Check the range on transmit and receive every time you go out. Once you find the victim's location, loca-tion, it's time to dig him out. Do you have a shovel? In 1982 at Big Sky, Montana, Ski Patroller Dave Stutz-man Stutz-man lost his life since his partner was without a shovel. He had a transceiver and his boot heel was sticking out of the snow. Park City resident Gus Mora died in our own Lamb's Canyon for want of a shovel. He was less than two feet under. Your shovel should be sturdy and proven in avalanche debris, and not stashed under 18 other items in your backpack. Next time you wander over avalanche debris, try digging in it. Sounds silly? Not really, because avalanche debris sets up like concrete. Digging in it requires real technique (just ask Forrest). Just going for it and cranking on the handle will break any shovel. Park City searchers broke more than 10 industrial lift operator shovels when digging out a victim in a wet slide at the 1985 World Cup. Chop blocks first, then remove them. Like I said, as with anything else having to do with avalanche rescue, this stuff requires practice. Don't wait until "next time" to practice. A good practice session can take place in the parking lot before your tour begins, and only cuts into 15 minutes of your day. Who are you fooling by putting this off? Controlled avalanche avalan-che paths in ski areas are excellent places to practice also, and give you an idea of how to search over difficult-to-ski terrain. Try to think of what obstacles might hinder a rescue, and practice them. It might be your best friend who thanks you. Remember, the best way to survive an avalanche is to avoid it in the first place. Be an educated backcountry traveler, not a dead one. And speaking of dead backcountry travellers, our purpose is to recover them. We are the Red Pine Back-country Back-country Rescue group, a group of professional avalanches workers who volunteer to supply the Summit County Sheriff with an expert avalanche rescue team. Our main purpose, however, is to help prevent accidents in the first place, through the use of articles, education, and the sponsorship of a telephone line donated to the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center Park City Line (649-2250). We encourage the use of skill, education, and common sense in the backcountry to result in a safe, pleasant ski experience. Happy turning and be careful out there. Yeastie Beasties lose, but still end up first by RANDY HANSKAT Record staff writer Those Beasties of Yeastie looked pretty downright invincible throughout the previous four weeks of the recreational volleyball league, losing not a game, and maiming many along the way. But the Yeasties got baked a bit in the final week of regular season play against Public Service, winning two games and the match, but losing the team's first single game. Oh my! The final week of the regular season showed little changed in the standings, as the top three teams remained re-mained in order Yeasties first, DVV's second, and Public Service third. With the regular season now complete, all 10 league teams spiked their way into post season action. "Wait! " you say. "How can all the teams get into the playoffs?" Mr. Recreation, Tim Heavy Vet-ter, Vet-ter, has patterned these playoffs after those in the National Hockey and National Basketball Leagues. In other words, regardless of the regular season performances, everyone still has a shot. "We found that allowing everyone into the playoffs increases our television revenue dramatically," explained Mr. Recreation. ESPN, ABC, and WTBS all bid for coverage of the finals, which began yesterday in the Treasure Mountain Middle School. As for the final week of the season, here are the results. The Yeasties beat Public Servitude 2-1, as detailed detail-ed above. Sharp Construction slapped slap-ped the Good Hand Holders 3-0. Hazy Reflections nuked the Pork Pounders 3-0. The DWs squashed the Packers 3-0. Finally, Brennan & Charles Shultz dehoofed the Stags 2-1. Those matches made this the final season standings: Yeast Hoppers 14-1 DVV's 13-2 Public Service 10-5 Sharp Construction 9-6 Clear Reflections 8-7 Good Hands People 8-7 Brennan & Shultz 5-10 Pounders 4-11 Pack Design 3-12 Stag Lodge 2-13 Last night was the opening of the tournament, and here is how next week shapes up. At 6:30 pm the Sharpies and Brennan & Charles Shultz will battle. The winner will most likely take on the Yeastie Beasties. In the other bracket, Public Servitude will shake the Good Hand Grippers. The winner there will probably face the DWs at 7:30. Finally, at 8:30 will be the finals. Isn't that special? Adventure Tour ki five of UJah's great ski areas in a single day the world famous Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour. Park City, Solitude, Brighton, Alta, Snowbird and the stunning Wasatch backcountry. $90 includes: professional guide service catered lunch return transportation unmatched alpine scenery For information and reservations contact SKI UTAH, INC. 307 W. 200 S. SLC, Utah 84101 (801)534-1907 Backcountry safety A checklist for low-impact backcountry skiing: Plan your route and place it on a quad map. Tell someone where you are going go-ing and for how long. Check weather forecasts (avalanche line in PC is 649-2250). Be prepared. Dress for all conditions: condi-tions: rain parkas, layering, sun glasses, lotion, extra dry clothing, waterproof matches, compass, high carbohydrate foods, skis, bindings, was and repair kit, bivouac kit, first aid kit, and camera. Ski safely. Check snow stability; avoid leeward faces, cornices, steep slopes, areas of heavy accumulation, ac-cumulation, that is, narrow gullies. The highest avalanche danger exists during or immediately im-mediately after a heavy snowfall or prolonged periods of high wind. Never ski alone. Do not overdo it. Stay dry. Cool your heads and hands first during ascents. Avoid overheating the body. Hypothermia Hypother-mia likes tired, sweaty bodies. If camping, make camp before exhaustion ex-haustion sets in. When touring in the spring, travel in the early morning hours. On narrow trails, yield the right-of-way to skiers coming downhill. Give way to snowmachiners. You can hear them, but they cannot hear you. Do not disturb the wildlife. Enyoy nature's splendor. Take nothing, but photos. Leave nothing but tracks! I 0 . : vJbMSULB ooseout prices Park City Chiropractic & Sports Medicine Clinic (Formerly the Cojer Chiropractic Clinic) Our new. multi-discipline facility offers a comprehensive range of services under the supervision of our highly qualified, professional staff, which Includes: Donald A. Cofer, D.C. - Chiropractic Orthopedist (Director Duane W. Francis, D.C. - Chiropractic Physician Robert Welner, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon David Jaramillo, D.P.M. - Podiatrist Robert Fournier, L.M.T. - Licensed Massage Therapist Laurie Cofer, C.N.C. - Certified Nutritional Consultant Nancy Pollard. M.S.W. - Stress Consultant Ann Robertson, A.T.C. - Athletic Trainer We provide diagnosis and a full range of treatment for most acute and chronic musculo-skeletal injuries. Open Monday- Friday 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday 4:00- 6:00 p.m. Call 649-1017 for an appointment 1678 Bonaza Way (Next to the Park Record Building in Prospector Square) Located in the scenic mountain area of Midway, you will find the most unique complex of its kind ever built, an authentic Swiss Village. SCHNEITTER'S SWISS OAKS Swiss Oaks is more than just a beautiful condominium development. Its recreational amenities are unparalleled. Its homes are unsurpassed in quality with construction found only in the Alpine Mountains of Europe. The buildings utilize the latest in state of the art construction, insulation and sound-proofing techniques. All this beauty and quality is also affordable starting from only $69,900. Choose from single cottages, town homes, duplexes, and six-plexes - all intermingled throughout the village. COME UP TODAY. Just 15 mins. from Park City, across from The Homestead Resort in Midway. 4- Phone 1-654-1800 jW 333? 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Dial 321-6793 weekdays between ten and five for your appointment In any Salt Lake area ZCMI store. GMT |