Jackson Hole patrol reaffirm exclusive use of Tracker2
Backcountry Access has voluntarily let users know of a software update that corrects an issue with some new Tracker2 Avalanche Beacons. The ski patrol at Jackson Hole has now completed their testing and confirm that all is well with the updated BCA Tracker2 Beacons as you can read below:
Jackson Hole patrol reaffirm exclusive use of Tracker2
After three weeks of rigorous testing, the Jackson Hole patrol, guiding, and rental programs have reaffirmed their commitment to exclusively using Tracker2 avalanche beacons. Patrol forecaster Mike Rheam sent the following e-mail last week to the directors of the ski patrol, ski school, guiding, retail, rental, and marketing departments:
“We are quite comfortable with the patrol’s continued use of the Tracker 2 as well as the rest of the company selling, renting and utilizing the new Tracker 2 units with the guide operations. This is not a ‘from the hip comment’ but is backed by serious testing of the replacement fleet the patrol received. We have have done drills at least five days a week, usually multiple burials and often drills were set up on all three duty stations on the same day. I have never seen the patrol train with transceivers so rigorously. In the last three weeks all the units have worked consistently and well.”
Jackson Hole purchased 182 Tracker2′s this fall for their patrol, alpine guides, and their rental program for guests that hire the alpine guides for skiing out-of-bounds. This decision was based on a thorough testing program organized by Rheam last season. After a month of heavy use at the beginning of the 2010-11 season, several units were reported to have problems. BCA offered a replacement fleet with updated software while we analyzed the original fleet. Three of the 182 units were determined to have issues (cracked solder on the loudspeaker wiring). However, in this process we were able to improve our quality control processes, develop better anti-static protection, and make improvements to the software that make it more robust in case of a “reboot” or power interruption. Thanks to valuable feedback from the Jackson patrol, these improvements are all included in all Tracker2′s being shipped. They are also available to the public in our version 4 software update. If you own a T2, we encourage you to send your beacon in for an upgrade.
BCA is excited to be supplying Tracker2′s to Jackson Hole, as well as Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen Mountain, Kirkwood, Grand Targhee, Revelstoke, Fernie, Whistler Heli-Skiing, Great Canadian Heli-Skiing, Snowwater Heli-Skiing, Eagle Pass Heli-Skiing and many other pro and guiding organizations. Not to mention tens of thousands of fellow recreational skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers that have purchased our product. Thanks for all your support. Obviously we value your feedback, so keep it comin’!
Jackson Hole is famous for its steep terrain, big vertical, and accessible out-of-bounds terrain such as Cody Peak and Rock Springs Canyon. The patrol and guiding programs have been using Tracker beacons for over ten years, most recently our popular Tracker2