An avalanche shovel is an essential part of your avalanche safety kit. Learn about the ABC’s and D of digging in this video from BCA. This time consuming phase of the avalanche rescue requires that you actively practice these techniques.
Watch BCA’s Shoveling 101:
BCA’s Companion Rescue Series covers “all the steps involved in rescuing a companion buried in an avalanche: the basics of avalanche transceiver searching, probing, strategic shoveling, organizing the rescue, providing first aid, and backcountry evacuation.”
This video is not a replacement for proper avalanche education. Take an avalanche course and practice with your avalanche gear.
Share these videos with your backcountry partners.
Watch More BCA Companion Rescue Series
Official Description From YouTube:
Published on Sep 4, 2013
Shoveling is the most time consuming phase of an avalanche rescue. In this video, BCA’s Andy Wenberg takes you through the “ABC’s and D of Digging,” using 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shovelers. The crux is to start digging downhill of the probe strike (not straight down), to clear snow to the sides first, and to avoid moving snow more than once.
Be sure to take an avalanche class before heading into the winter backcountry. For more educational resources, go to http://www.backcountryaccess.com/education
