Backcountry Access

DTS Rescue Package

Peanut, butter, and jelly. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Beacon, shovel, and probe—good things seem to come in threes, and Backcountry Access is hopping on the trifecta train with the DTS Rescue Package, which combines the legendary Tracker DTS avalanche beacon, Stealth 240 probe, and B-1 EXT shovel to make sure you're fully equipped when you head into the backcountry.

The Tracker DTS beacon is a legend, due to its simplicity, durability, and reliability. Clear and intuitive direction and distance indicators take most of the guesswork out of searching, and the easy-to-use multiple-burial mode is a key—if hopefully never necessary—feature. The DTS automatically switches to transmit mode after 10 minutes of inactivity, just in case the searcher has been caught in a secondary slide, and the large buttons make it easy to operate with gloves on, giving you one less thing to worry about in an emergency.

The shovel and probe are far simpler but no less important; after all, you need all three to successfully locate an avalanche victim. The B-1 EXT shovel is compact and lightweight,with an telescoping aluminum blade and ergonomic T-grip handle. BCA upgraded the Stealth 240 probe this season, making the depth markings easier to read and giving it a stronger tip that penetrates dense snow more easily. And with its Quick-Lock hardware, the Stealth stows better and deploys faster than any other probe out there.

While having a full kit is infinitely better than relying on dumb luck, please remember that beacons, shovels, and probes are NOT a guarantee that you will survive an avalanche; get educated, learn how to use your tools, travel with trustworthy partners, and be smart out there.