Freerider and mountain guide Anna Hankevich shares her impressions of working with an electronic avalanche probe and tells what common mistakes when searching for a victim can be solved with its help.

My experience conducting avalanche search training sessions has shown several common problems. Previously, they had to be solved only by intensive training, but now the situation can be improved by using an electronic avalanche probe.

Operating principle of an electronic avalanche probe

As a rule, problems arise at the precise search stage. This stage is extremely important, since it is through an accurate search that we determine the specific location of the victim and minimize the probing time.

However, during an accurate search, beginners make mistakes, and I usually recommend spending a little more time at this stage and making an extra cross to make sure that the minimum sensor readings at a specific point are correct. This is a waste of precious minutes.

According to joint research between PIEPS and the Austrian Guiding School UIAGM, precise search with an avalanche transceiver (search in the last meters) and “search with an avalanche probe” account for approximately 58% of the total search time.

Using an electronic avalanche probe (I work with PIEPS iProbe) you can reduce the time search work, since there is no need to carry out the exact search stage so carefully. The electronic probe allows you to quickly find the victim due to sound and indicator lights. There is a sensor at the tip of the probe. When it approaches the transmitting beeper less than 2 meters, the probe begins to emit an intermittent signal. At a distance of less than 50 cm, the sound and light signals will become continuous.

Studies show that when using the PIEPS iProbe electronic probe, the time required for accurate searching is halved.

Search indicator: distinguish a victim from a decoy

The second important problem when searching is that amateurs have doubts whether they have found a real victim or whether the probe has rested on the terrain or tree. When using an electronic probe, a loud continuous signal in combination with a light will immediately make it clear that the victim has been found. The probe tip responds to ANY enabled avalanche transceiver from any manufacturer, operating according to the standard at a frequency of 457 kHz.

Function of deactivating the avalanche transceiver using an electronic probe

The third problem concerns multi-search, when you need to find several people at once. The main problem is that several sensors simultaneously transmit a signal. In this case, you must HAVE and BE ABLE to use a beeper with a multi-search function and marking of found targets. As the practice of passing tests at the School of Mountain Guides shows (and there we had to fulfill the standard of finding four targets in 12 minutes), multi-search is a really difficult task.

The PIEPS iProbe helps solve this problem because it can turn off a sensor that has already been found, thereby reducing the number of active sensors. True, he can only do this with compatible sensors, for example, or PIEPS Freeride.

The found sensor is deactivated by pressing the button on the handle. If the probe is moved away from the switched off sensor, then after a few seconds the beeper will begin transmitting the signal again.

I can only add that all the user functions of this probe are quite obvious. I deliberately did not read the instructions before starting use - and everything turned out to be clear without it.

An electronic probe allows you to solve typical problems when searching for a victim and reduce search time, but, of course, purchasing such a probe does not eliminate the need for constant training in search work.

(avalanche transceiver) - must be mandatory equipment when traveling, riding or working on avalanche slopes. It is designed to probe the thickness of the snow when searching for people caught in an avalanche.

The probe is a collapsible rod (usually) 2-3 meters long. Such lightweight portable probes are not produced longer (with the exception of steel collapsible probes for professional rescuers), since according to statistics, the chance of detecting a person alive at a depth of more than 2-3 meters under the snow is less than 10%

Tube sections (length about 40cm) consist of aluminum alloy or carbon fiber. The diameter and wall thickness of the tubular segments may vary between probes. Thin probes very often break, especially with inept probing because... The probe often encounters frozen, dense layers of snow, clods, ice crusts, etc. on its way.

A cable or nylon (nylon) cord runs inside the probe, and when pulled, the probe becomes rigid. Depending on the model and manufacturer, the methods for fixing the cable (cord) may be different! The very important thing here is that the probe, like any other avalanche equipment, should work for you, and not you for it. That is, the question is - how to assemble the dipstick into working condition?- should not cause you any difficulties or any modifications (like - hit the slot with a knot; tighten the washer, nut, etc.). Everything must be assembled (brought into working order) quickly!

Method of searching for victims in an avalanche

Typically, an avalanche probe is used at the final stage of searching for a victim, when his location is approximately determined using an avalanche transducer (beeper).

If one lifeguard— the spiral method is used. Starting from point pin point(link “beeper search methods”)

If the rescue team— the search begins from the point where the victim was last seen, along his likely trajectory in the avalanche.

Rescuers line up in one line, shoulder to shoulder and, slowly (20-30 centimeters, half a step) moving forward, begin to probe the area where the victim is supposed to be located at the command of the senior group.

- A quick, but less accurate method is one “prick” in the center in front of you - a step forward, etc.

- A more accurate method is 3 “pricks” - at the left shoulder, in the center, at the right shoulder - a step forward, etc.

In this case, the avalanche probe is immersed strictly perpendicular to the surface of the slope. If interference is detected in the thickness of the snow, the probe is not removed, but left in place and begun to be dug out. For ease of use, length marks are applied to the probes or sections are alternated in different colors, allowing one to judge at what depth the probe encountered an obstacle.

Practice shows that in close proximity (usually 2-3 meters), the location of the victim is easier and faster determined by an avalanche probe than by an avalanche beacon (beeper).

If you decide to supplement your equipment for safe freeride with an avalanche probe, then the easiest thing is to go to

We offer Wholesale prices for regular customers with whom we have established partnerships and for legal entities for whom we have a separate office and warehouse. You can receive a commercial offer by sending us a request via the form feedback. You can also use the online store’s electronic catalog system by adding the desired products to the cart and placing an order. Our managers will process it, if necessary, advise you on the specifics and advisability of purchasing this or that equipment and transfer it to the wholesale department for further processing.

• Purchases totaling over 10 thousand rubles - 5% discount
• Purchases totaling over 75 thousand rubles - 9% discount
• Purchase for a total amount of 175 thousand rubles - 12% discount
• Purchase for a total amount of 250 thousand rubles - 15% discount
• Purchase for a total amount of 350 thousand rubles - 18% discount*

* The 18% discount applies only to clothing and does not apply to equipment, tents, and sleeping bags.

• Employees of rescue units and law enforcement agencies - 12% discount
• Masters of Sports of the USSR and Russia - 12% discount
• Rope access specialists (upon presentation of identification) - 12% discount
• IRATA members - 15% discount
• On your birthday - 18% discount on clothing, 15% discount on equipment, sleeping bags and tents
• Members of partner clubs - information from responsible club representatives

* Discounts are provided upon presentation of an ID or supporting document

We try to support sports and children's clubs by providing discounts and special promotions. Conditions for receiving special discounts are negotiated separately with the organizers or club leaders.

In order to enter into a joint benefit agreement, we will need lists of club members if they do not have membership cards or cards. We need this so that the person who comes to make a purchase can be identified by us as a member of the club and thereby confirm the right to receive a discount.

If the victims do not have avalanche sensors or if the search with sensors does not produce results, rescuers begin a search using avalanche probes.

It should be remembered that the effectiveness of searching for a victim using only avalanche probes is extremely low and the chances of finding the victim alive are illusory - the minimum set of avalanche equipment is an avalanche transceiver, an avalanche shovel, an avalanche probe and a first aid kit.

Avalanche sounding even small size- this is extremely long, hard and monotonous work, in which the main thing is thoroughness and organization.

The area where sounding was carried out must be marked in order, on the one hand, to prevent the appearance of an unexplored area, and on the other hand, to avoid wasting time and effort on repeatedly surveying the same place.

For proper organization work, the role of the manager is very important, who must clearly, and if necessary, then strictly, maintain discipline and order during rescue operations, especially during sounding.

During rescue work on an avalanche, it is important to maintain silence, only the leader gives commands, all other rescuers work silently, so as not only to feel, but also to hear the impact of the probe on various objects.

During search and rescue operations in a forest area, tree branches covered with snow have a rebound character that is absolutely similar to the victim’s body. In such a situation, you have to either dig or use a VTsSPS probe. Some of the older probes had a crown or drill at the end. A probe with such a crown is inserted into the snow, when it reaches an obstacle, it is turned clockwise 180° and pulled out. When examining the crown, the nature of the object that prevented further passage of the probe is established (earth, ice, wood, material, possibly skin or traces of blood).

Initially, probing is carried out in the places where the victim is most likely to be along his path of movement: rock outcrops, bushes, couloirs, under discovered things, etc.

If the search in the most likely places does not lead to the discovery of the victim, then they proceed to continuous sounding in a line. Continuous sounding in a line makes sense if there are at least 6 rescuers. If they are not there, continue searching in the places where the person is most likely to be found.

When probing in a line, sparse/fast probing is performed first. Rescuers line up facing up the slope with a distance between people of up to 10 cm and, on the command “prick”, stick the probe to the maximum depth, then on the command “step” the rescuers take a normal step, then everything is repeated. In this case, the probes enter the snow in the corners of a square with a side of 70 or 75 cm. The probe is stuck into the snow vertically, a deviation from the vertical by 10° with a 3-meter depth of snow gives a deviation at the bottom of 50 cm.

Material: aluminum
Cord: Kevlar
Total length, cm: 200
Number of elbows: 5
Knee length, cm: 40
Weight, g: 195
Diameter, mm: 11

Characteristics - Avalanche probe Ortovox 200 Economic

Reviews - Avalanche probe Ortovox 200 Economic

On our blog

Avalanche probes

Avalanche probes are necessary for the final part of the search. With the so-called pinpoint. The main difference between the probes is the length and material. Steel probes are more reliable, but slightly heavier than their plastic counterparts. And a length of more than 3 meters is needed only for a large volume of rescue work. Naturally, it is easier to break a long probe than a standard size probe. Avalanche probe - designed for probing the thickness of snow when searching for people caught in an avalanche. It is a collapsible rod 2 to 4 meters long, consisting of aluminum or carbon sections, inside which a cable runs. When the cable is pulled, the probe becomes rigid. The diameter and wall thickness of the tubular segments may vary between probes. There are also ultra-light samples, however, such probes, as a rule, do not have...