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In Avalanche – Avoiding Unsuitable Positions of the Cervical Spine

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

In other words, don’t break your neck. Check out this conceptual design. Nothing really new, but fun to see the industrial designers have their thinking caps on. I still contend that a passive system is the way of the future. Such a system uses a microprocessor and GPS to know that you’re in an avalanche and switches on the safety systems automatically, more, the breathing system should be passive as well, perhaps just a small oxygen tank that vents 02 near your face or under a balaclava.

Check out the video below, the aqualung breathing soundtrack is particularly impressive, as is the idea that fido is on hand to sniff you out. One has to wonder if this designer is spending more time learning video production than anything else.More here.

Posted by Lou on July 18, 2009 | Filed Under avalanches 

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Comments

3 Responses to “In Avalanche – Avoiding Unsuitable Positions of the Cervical Spine”

  1. Jonathan Shefftz July 18th, 2009 8:36 pm

    Interesting combo/integration, but very little float b/c of how small the air chambers are (with emphasis instead on protection only), and not being able to preposition the mouthpiece (since it does double duty as the trigger) is a big problem.
    Then again, they’re still obviously at the drawing board…

  2. Mark July 18th, 2009 9:15 pm

    Interesting ideas at work. Sort of like the Avalung 4.0.

  3. john Gloor July 19th, 2009 11:22 pm

    I like the Idea of using 02 to pressurize the vest and supply oxygen for breathing. I’d like to see a hard shell for spine protection with air chamber padding if they are serious about that. I do not know if the current design would work as well as a moto spine protector. It is a hard choice to make since they will have to go minimalist for the BC ski market where people do not wear padding for crashes/avalanches, yet. If my Avalung pack had 02 floatation/breathing it would be the ultimate. Do you hear that BD?

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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