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Education >> Beacon Training Parks

BCA’s original European Beacon Basin site is at Zinken, Austria, near Salzburg.

Felix Camire, BCA Tech Rep in Alberta, Canada, shows a beacon training park user how to pinpoint a buried transmitter at the Mt. Norquay training park.

Will Barrett and Jeff Ferragi of Breckenridge (CO) Ski Patrol set up Beacon Basin for the day at the top of Peak 8. Thanks to lots of practice (and the right beacon), Ferragi is four-time winner of the Colorado Beacon Bowl, an annual transceiver competition at nearby Arapahoe Basin.

BCA Transceiver Training Park at Altavaltellina in Bormio, Italy. BCA has designed a cost-effective solution for beacon training and distributes these training parks around the world. Photo courtesy of BCA's Italian distributor: Ski Trab srl

You're never too young to learn how to use a transceiver. Make sure everyone in your party is familiar with their equipment. Milos Just in the Czech Republic teaches beacon users how to conduct a primary search. Photo courtesy of: David Beckovsky of U100

Backcountry Access Beacon Trainging Parks

Backcountry Access Beacon Training Parks (BTPs) are training systems created to make it easier for recreationists and pros to practice with their transceivers. It features 4-10 permanently buried transmitters wired to a central control panel. To change the scenario, just flick the on/off switches on the control panel. Instead of digging holes and reburying beacons all day, you spend your valuable time actually practicing with your transceiver.

See the list below for a Beacon Training Park near you.

2008/2009 Beacon Training Park locations:

Alaska:

H20 Guides, Valdez

California:

Heavenly
Kirkwood
Mammoth
Mt. Shasta
Squaw Valley

Colorado:

Arapahoe Basin
Aspen Mountain
Beaver Creek
Breckenridge
Monarch Mountain
Purgatory
Steamboat Resort
Telluride
Vail
Winter Park

Idaho

Bogus Basin
Brundage Mountain Snowcat Tours

Montana:

Big Mountain
Bridger Bowl
Moonlight Basin/Big Sky
Trail Head

Oregon:

Mt. Hood, The Mazamas

Utah:

Manti Skyline at Big Drift Trailhead
Noblett's Trailhead/Uintah Mountains

Washington:

Alpental
Alpine Safety Awareness Program
Mt. Baker Ski Area
Crystal Mountain
Mission Ridge
The Mountaineers/Snoqualmie Pass
Stevens Pass Ski Area

Wyoming:

Jackson Hole
Teton Pass
Togwotee Pass

Canada:

Sunshine Village, AB
Mount Norquay, AB
Kananaskis Country, AB
Marmot Basin, AB
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, AB
Whistler, BC
Rogers Pass, BC
Blackcomb, BC
Kicking Horse, BC
Whitewater Ski Resort, BC
Kokanee Glacier Lodge, BC
Mount Carlyle Lodge, BC
Fernie, BC
Red Mountain, BC
Sol Mountain Lodge, BC
Centre d'avalanche de la Haute-Gaspesie, Chic Chocs

Europe:

Les Grands Montets, Chamonix Valley, France
Col de Porte (near Grenoble), France
Pelvoux, France
Altavaltellina, Bormio, Italy
Civetta, Italy
Passo Tonale, Lombardy, Italy
Seegrube Austrian Alpine Club, Innsbruck, Austria
Werfenweng Mtn. Rescue Team, Werfenweng, Austria

Zinken Mtn. Rescue Team, Bad Durrnberg, Austria
Hof Mtn. Rescue Team, Austria
St. Anton Mtn. Rescue Team, Austria
Montafon Mtn. Rescue Team, Austria
Offpiste Adventures, Zell am See, Austria
Disentis, Switzerland
Ratzi (near Aldorf) (2)- Switzerland
Albert Link Hütte am Spitzingsee, Germany
Steibis Bergbahnen, Germany
Jenner Bahn-Mittelstation Berchtesgaden, Germany
Oxigen Distributións, Spain
Narvik, Norway
Riksgransen, Sweden
Hiihtokeskus Tunturi- Ylläs, Finland
Ziarska Cottage, West Tatras, Slovakia

More locations are planned. Check back for updates to this list. Contact Steve Christie at (303) 417-1345 for contact information at each location.

There are still a few training parks available for the 2008/2009 season. Please fill out the form below and fax it to us at 303.417.1625 or email it to info@backcountryaccess.com.

BCA Beacon Training Park Request Form

Beacon Training Parks
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