Backcountry skiing is a big part of my life. Staying safe in the backcountry by making sound decisions and knowing how to use rescue tools is key to living to ski another day. While so many get caught up with the functions of their avalanche beacons, shoveling is actually the most time consuming phase in an avalanche rescue. If a vicitim is buried 1m to 1.5m deep, you will have to close to 1 ton to 1.5 tons of snow. It's important to carry a strong shovel and know some strategic shoveling techniques in case you had to put your skills to the test. This is a custom BCA shovel that gets the job done. I call it the Chugach Extreme.
