 SAFETY IN THE CHUTES
Illegally
entering closed terrain, aka poaching, will not be tolerated
and will result in the revoking of mountain access for
the following 3 years. Once an area on the mountain is deemed suitable
for public use by the ski patrol, that area will then be opened. Bottom
line, if the closed sign is up on the Chute entry gate, stay out & stay
alive.
Avalanche Control
 Since
the early 1970's, Mt. Rose has performed avalanche-control work in the
Chutes as well as other avalanche-prone paths on the
Mt. Rose Hwy under an agreement with the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Although the possibility of an avalanche in extreme terrain such as the
Chutes can never be entirely eliminated, the extensive knowledge gained
from this thirty-year tenure is key in preventing major snow slides. Blasting
essentially helps to minimize danger by forcing small slides before they
have the chance to grow into hazardous build-ups. Adding the technology
of the Avalauncher to the arsenal of existing control measures dramatically
reduces the risk of unpredictable slides. Skier traffic into the area will
further stabilize these slopes by providing strength to the snow pack through
compaction.
 
RECCO
is an electronic avalanche rescue system for the location of avalanche
victims equipped with passive transponders (reflectors). The system is
composed of the DETECTOR and the REFLECTOR:
The detector or search equipment (made up of both a transmitter and a
receiver) is used by the organized ski patrol. The detectors are positioned
at the summit rescue stations within the ski areas, and thanks to their
small size and lightweight (only 1.6 kg), they are easily and rapidly brought
to the avalanche site.
The reflectors are small electronic transponders, consisting of a copper
aerial and diode. They do not require batteries (passive system), and are
integrated into skiwear, and ski boots. Skiers or snowboarders are thus
permanently equipped with reflectors. It is recommended to wear one reflector
on the jacket and one on the trousers, or one reflector on each ski boot.
Reflectors are available at the Ski Patrol Office (top of Northwest Magnum
6 for $20.
The RECCO system is intended for skiers and snowboarders moving within
or in the vicinity of a ski area, where the alert time is short and the
ski patrol able to intervene rapidly.
The RECCO system operates on the frequency doubling principle. The detector
transmits a directional radar signal. When hitting a reflector, the frequency
of the signal is doubled and returned to the detector. When this new signal
is received by the detector, the search person will perceive a tone in
his earphones, facilitating an exact localization of the avalanche victim.
The RECCO system does not prevent avalanche accidents, nor
does it guarantee the survival or the localization of an avalanche victim.
Always respect prevailing safety rules and regulations.
  
Mt.
Rose operates under a Special Use
Permit
from the US Forest Service.
Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest.
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