Backcountry Safety

Latest Posts

Electronic Interference in a Nutshell

Cell phones, heated gloves, smart watches, and even snowmobiles can create electronic interference (EMI) that can disrupt an avalanche transceiver search--unless the searcher takes preventative action. In an encouraging collaboration this fall between manufacturers, avalanche centers, educators, and other stakeholders, a working group organized by the Canadian Avalanche Association produced a basic set of guidelines to clarify these issues to the public.

Backcountry Access: The Origins, Part 4

Within three years of our big launch, Tracker DTS had taken over the U.S. market. And it was gaining traction in Europe, touching off some heated competition that later became known by industry insiders as the “Beacon Wars.”

Backcountry Access: The Origins, Part 3

We’d done it: graduated from Bruno’s garage to a real office/warehouse space in North Boulder. But there was some work to do: the shop smelled like 20W-50 and there was still a car on blocks inside, without a transmission. In the office, an old search warrant was laying on the floor. Our neighbors included the Boulder Homeless Shelter and the Bustop Gentleman’s Club (a.k.a. strip joint). Our new space in this glamorous neighborhood would be Mission Control for our launch of Tracker DTS, the world’s first digital avalanche transceiver.

Backcountry Access: The Origins, Part 2

Alpine Trekker production got off to a rough start, but the bar was low, and the final product was a lot better than Secura-fix, whose New York-based distributor was a legendary stiff that retailers couldn’t wait to leave behind. The first year we operated out of Bruno’s garage on W. Moorhead Circle in South Boulder.

Backcountry Access: The Origins, Part 1

In this five-part series, we’ll uncover the origins of BCA, how our products were conceived, the role we’ve played in our exploding industry, and where the path has led since our acquisition in 2013. Where will it go from here? Who knows? And we’re not going to tip our hand. But there’s lots of inspiration to be found in our past and in our present.