Snohomish County Shows Off New Beacon Locator

I see the max range is 200m (20m under snow) and that they market them as being for avalanches. While it would narrow the grid needed for a missing person search considerably, that DOES sound like body recovery for the most part. Really cool technology, though, and completely passive. I agree it's irresponsible to suggest they'd be a good tool to get you out of an avalanche alive unless you're one really lucky b4stard and somehow survive 45+ minutes. It probably would have saved that poor kid over in Anthony Lakes, though, and that's where I see their usefulness.

I see the max range is 200m (20m under snow) and that they market them as being for avalanches.  While it would narrow the grid needed for a missing person search considerably, that DOES sound like body recovery for the most part.  Really cool technology, though, and completely passive.  I agree it's irresponsible to suggest they'd be a good tool to get you out of an avalanche alive unless you're one really lucky b4stard and somehow survive 45+ minutes.  It probably would have saved that poor kid over in Anthony Lakes, though, and that's where I see their usefulness.

Well kudos Ryanjv1! I admire a person who does some research and has the grace to temper his/her original remarks as a result and then post them.

It does appear that in their current configuration the RECCO system is not well suited to burial aspects of BC skiing, vis-a-vis live extraction.  It may nevertheless warrant following future development in areas of size, cost and effectiveness.

Besides, you could play hide and seek with your kids, and they'd never figure out how you keep finding them..