What will save your life?

Will this save your life?
Not without this:


Or This:

If you play in the woods in the winter there is absolutely no excuse for you not to have the proper gear. In the mountains, that means an avalanche beacon, AND and probe, AND a shovel. We just pulled our first two avalanche victims of the year out. One was air flighted out, the other wasn't. Why? They don't fly dead bodies. Guess which one we got to first? Guess which one had a beacon on?

Snowshoeing
Hiking
Skiing
Snow Boarding
Snowmobiling

If there is any white stuff on the ground you need to plan accordingly:

• First and foremost get trained. Take at least a basic avalanche course or better yet a level one certification. You can find a list of providers in your area here
• Second, make sure you have the right equipment. This means a beacon, probe, shovel, and extra batteries. EVERYONE in your party should have the same. Anything else is sure idiocy
  
• Finally, use your head. Be "that guy". The one who says the conditions are too dangerous and makes everyone turn around. Testosterone is a neurotoxin- most avalanche victims claim to have had a poor impression of the conditions, but pushed ahead anyway for reasons of pride or ego. Neither one of those do you much good if you're dead.

Be safe, be smart, come home alive!