IKAR 2009, Zermatt

An overview of developments at this year’s IKAR

IKAR 09 ZERMATT from topograph media on Vimeo.

Some of the highlights

* Tripod crevasse rescue system (we’ve seen this kind of gear used in the Vallee Blanche too)
* Remote activated ABS, useful for guided groups, still in prototype but we discussed this in the forum: http://pistehors.com/news/forums/viewthread/341/
* Improvements to the conveyor belt technique for strategic shovelling
* Some interesting developments for rope work
* Daisy Bell avalanche triggering system which can be transported by helicopter
* Pieps IProbe, this has been criticised by the recent Candian study which say remote switch off of beacons could leave victims in the ground: http://pistehors.com/news/forums/viewthread/398/
The reccommend not bothering with probing if the victim is less than 1m from the surface, the time taken to get another 50cm of accuracy is wasted and you should start digging immediately
* Digital beacon improvements to help with multiple burials especially processing speeds, again see this thread: http://pistehors.com/news/forums/viewthread/398/
The conclusion is that the 20seconds between beacons is not a big factor - shovelling and probing techniques are key
* MERS system for Gondola rescue (les Arcs were practising rescues last week, taking a single person off a lift at a time, a very long procedure, they are supposed to be able to start intervention within 30 minutes and finish the evac in 3 hours. There is at least 1 evac in the Vanoise per winter). The MERS system can take up to 5 people at a time.
* Ski ticket RFID avalanche transmitter, similar to Recco
* Drones for assisting in rescue operations, useful for when weather conditions are too dangerous for manned helicopters and could cut S&R costs

Thanks to http://www.kairn.com for the heads-up on this.