The Avalanche Airbag
– the new frontier in backcountry skiing gear

Beacon? Check. Shovel? Check. Probe? Check. Airbag? Check.

Airbag? Really? Well, thanks to design and functionality improvements over the past several years, the avalanche airbag backpacks are starting to become a mainstream necessity for backcountry travel. Originally designed in the 1980’s, the Avalanche Airbag works on the principle of the Brazil Nut Theory. In an avalanche, items of heavier mass such as ice and rocks (as well as humans) sink to the bottom of the debris field while lighter things float to the surface. By inflating a 150+ liter airbag, the skier goes from being one of the heaviest objects to one of the lightest, thus remaining on the surface of the debris. The intent: to avoid burial altogether.

Aspen Expeditions, at the forefront of backcountry safety technology, has teamed up with Snowpulse and Mammut to carry a complete line of Avalanche Airbags. Snowpulse and Mammut offer innovation design and weight savings that cannot be found by any other manufacturer.

All Aspen Expeditions clients going on side-country and backcountry excursions will have access to a fleet of bags. They will also be on sale in the shop. We will be doing demonstrations throughout the season to show the features and deployment of airbag. Come check out the safety features, weight, design characteristics, and functionality as we have several bags in stock.

Also new this year, Aspen Expeditions will serve as a certified re-fill station for Backcountry Access, Mammut, and Snowpulse Avalanche Airbag canisters. We are the first and only authorized re-fill station in the Roaring Fork Valley. Now you can get your bags back in service quickly after a test deployment or actual use in the field. Please feel free to call the shop at 970-925-7625 or email info@aspenexpeditions.com for details, and check the blog for periodic news and updates on the topic.

Stay safe out there.