"Last Tracks" in The Stranger

I have carried mine on a few solo tours as well mostly out of habit.

I forgot mine last week. Maybe in the past I would have been more concerned, but the beacon is way down the list of things that will save my ass. Knowledge of the snowpack, weather observations, proper terrain travel/management. These are the things that keep me alive. The beacon is so they can find my body.

For those who may not have seen the original topic article, don't miss Eric's eloquent answer to 'Why?'

I grew up not using a beacon, and then when I got older (teenager) I bought one (could afford one). I often leave it at the car, but this is a judgment call like leaving the rope, ice axe, crampons or water (fill up at nearest stream) or whatever other gear I often leave behind. I go with the knowledge that I may have needed it or that I may be taking more risk without it. But that is part of risk management when climbing and I am always aware of all the different risks, much more than the average slack-country skier who's in search of powder solely for that purpose only. Whereas I am in search of a route or summit in the safest possible conditions. Also, when I leave gear, I leave weight. I go faster, but often I have to turn around because I don't have this gear. I come back another day. If it doesn't go that time, I come back another day. And so forth. Most powder hounds are just there for one thing and they have a hard time coming back another day. Wearing a beacon for them is a very good idea. They are in much more danger than I am on average. Another thing to note (as I am the occasional powder hound), when I am near a ski area, I wear my beacon much more often than I do ski mountaineering. Partly because I am often not climbing what I am skiing and that if I am, I often am in skier mode rather than mountaineering mode, which is much more of a risk-taker frame of mind. Skis can just take you so far so fast that you feel more like a superhero than a climber does, who moves very slow and meticulous.

I'm with Ron on this one.  Wearing a beacon is like putting on underwear, I prefer wearing both.  I don't think having them on alters my behavior but I would probably be uncomfortable if either were missing.  (I have only ever tried skiing without the beacon).  When I was younger, I skiied without a beacon but now I wear it whether I think I need it or not (unless I forget it).

Seeing slab debris from Northwest slides is enough to convince you that avoidance is the best option and keeps you (hopefully) from foolhardy behavior due to the use of a beacon. Exposure and terrain traps also make convincing arguments for rational thought uninfluenced by gear.

Thanks for the different points of view. I just want to make sure there is a voice defending beacon use in some of these threads. I do understand their limitations and some of the reasons people decide to ski without them. I don't have any issue with those personal decisions. I am mainly thinking about new people to the sport who may get the impression that they aren't necessary or that the experienced people don't use them. I didn't think that was the case so I asked the question. Beacons are expensive so if new people get the impression they don't have a place in the sport we may find less partners in the future who use them.