Backcountry Evac!

Preparation for travelling safely in the backcountry is not just
a question of avalanche awareness. A wrong turn or caught edge can
result in an injury, which makes first aid training and a kit essential
parts of your group's gear.

In the event of a backcountry accident, a party member may be
unable to transport themselves to shelter or a pickup for vehicular
evacuation. In this situation, it may save the life of a party member
if they can be moved by the party itself.

Many ski guides carry their own systems to modify their ski gear
and evacuate an injured person. Considering this from a snowboarder's
perspective, it is easy to build a lightweight and effective system
to convert a snowboard into an evacuation device, to which an injured
party member may be lashed and skidded to safer environs.

Sound interesting? Here is how it works...

The system is pretty simple, using the binding hardware and inserts,
to which a lightweight frame- made of two ski poles and two lightweight
cross-members - is attached, lashing the injured party down and
towing them with a cord of the sort commonly carried for the Rutschblock
snowpack test.

In the event of an evacuation situation, the bindings are removed
and stowed in a pack. The cross-members have holes drilled to match
the binding insert pattern on the snowboard and are attached with
the hardware from the removed bindings. The ski poles are lashed
to the cross-members through holes at each end. The victim is then
placed on the board and lashed securely to the poles and dragged
by a loop in the cord. Total time from board to evacuation-mobile
is 10-15 minutes!

The only additional parts required for this system are the cross-members.
Being a good Canadian shredder, the kit I carry uses two, 40cm pieces
of hockey stick shaft for this purpose. The mount holes have been
counter-sunk to enable the binding hardware to securely attach them
to the snowboard. The lash holes on the ends are just drilled through.
Total additional packed weight is EASILY less than 500 grams. If
you have burly metal stays in your pack, these may be drilled out
and used as the cross-members, in which there is NO additional stuff
to carry!

Of course, this is not a spine board, and should not be used as
such. A system like this is simple, easy to build, and easy to use.
Having first aid and rudimentary transport capabilities in your
backcountry group can save you a night out in the open or the cost
of a funeral, and should be considered for most trips longer than
a hike off of the ski hill!