Last week, I decided to order a RECCO rescue reflector for my snowboard helmet (the red strip pictured above). My new jacket -- a wonderful Christmas gift -- doesn't have one built in, so I decided it couldn't hurt to just stick one on. They cost about $50.
However, a passive RECCO reflector is not an avalanche beacon. These reflectors only work if a rescue crew has active RECCO detectors on hand. I don't know what percentage of resorts have them, but if you've ever been cat or heli-skiing, or if you do backcountry skiing, you'll know that what you need is a beacon.
Avalanche beacons generally have two modes: a sending mode and a receiving mode. When you're riding, you want it in sending mode, meaning you're automatically transmitting your location. No further action is needed.
If something bad were to happen, and someone gets lost, everyone in the group will then switch their beacon to receiving mode. And this is how you go about finding someone if they've been caught in something like an avalanche.
I don't know that many people who do this while skiing inbounds, but today's tragedy at Palisades Tahoe is a reminder that sometimes bad things can happen even within managed resort areas. My heart is heavy for the skier who died today.
