Outside of the serious avalanche safety activities and discussions, there was 50lbs of bacon cooked by Pat Kennedy of REI who also came up with a great new use for the BCA B1-Ext shovel: a spatula for frying eggs!
By Steve Christie
The 10th Annual Mt. Baker Beacon Bacon Rally (yes BACON) was a massive success again this year. Over three hundred attendees participated in beacon searches, shoveling, and probing practice at a BCA sponsored beacon training park set up for the event. Once everyone cycled through the stations, BCA offered a group communication and leadership discussion to round-out their backcountry safety skills.
Steve Christie running group communication and organization training at the 10th Annual Mt. Baker Beacon Bacon Rally.
Remember: once you know how to use your gear you need to know how to manage people and learn how to communicate effectively if there is more than one rescuer. And on top that, it doesn't hurt to think about what type of pending medical situation may be looming in an avalanche burial.
The Mt. Baker Beacon Rally was held on Saturday December 16, 2017 at the Heather Meadows Base Area. This FREE community education event brought local avalanche professionals together to share avalanche rescue skills and promote mountain safety. FREE BACON was provided by Carne Butcher Shop. Backcountry beginners joined seasoned veterans to learn and practice basic search techniques including beacon, shovel and probe use with beacon training park, practice stations, demonstrations, presentations and a beacon rescue race.
Andy Sahfeld, Mt. Baker Avalanche Safety Director
Jeff Hambleton, Mt. Baker
Jason Wutke, BCA/K2 Canada
Watch the Mt. Baker Beacon Rally Video by Mattias Evangelista.