The 2021 AGM on 12 October coincided with the end of the Sydney lockdown - we are grateful to those who were prepared to spend their newfound freedom back on Zoom... It was a good turnout and we did get through all the important stuff, outlining a lot of the new developments, achievements and projects which our committee has been working on over the last 12 months. Below is a video recording of the meeting, links to the Minutes and also the powerpoint slides if anyone would like to have a closer look at the information presented.
We would like to thank Arc’teryx for signing up to be our Signature Sponsor for the next three years - their support will contribute greatly to MSC’s mission of increasing safe decision-making in the Australian backcountry.
MSC has also commenced an Ambassador program. It will be awesome to have local backcountry experts assisting MSC to get our message out there, ensuring people are educated and aware of backcountry hazards. If we help save one person’s life through our efforts then we’re fulfilling our mission! We are proud to announce that our first four Ambassadors are Tim Macartney-Snape, Alex Parsons, Drew Jolowicz & Matt Wiseman. Click here for their profiles.
Avalanche Training Centre Report
This was our first year of having the opportunity to thoroughly familiarise ourselves with our avalanche beacons at the MSC Avalanche Training Centre (ATC) at Hotham.
It became clear not all beacons perform the same. One thing is certain that older models 10+ years are not up to the task. There are several reasons for that. Beacons have some very sensitive innards which means hard knocks can put them out of alignment. This is one of the reasons why they should be serviced regularly about every 3 years. Some will need a software update. If your beacon is ancient and you are deciding to purchase a new one there are a few to choose from. Check for tests and reviews. Mammut, who have sponsored our ATC, have a very good track record with their beacons. Whatever model you choose, make sure you register your warranty and stick to the recommended update/service intervals. This will guarantee you get the most out of your new beacon.
If your beacon falls inbetween or your warranty has lapsed and you want to keep using it, we can organise a service for the following models:
Mammut : Pulse Barryvox, Element Barryvox, VS2000 Pro Barryvox, DSP Pro Ice Pieps, DSP Pro Pieps, DSP Sport Pieps, and Micro Pieps.
Email me if you have q’s : outreach@mountainsportscollective.org attn: Rolf
Some insights from this year with the ATC:
Some people using BCA Tracker 2 models never found any buried ‘victims’.
Many had trouble in multiple burial scenarios with the flagging function.
All this points to the fact that we all need to practice before we get into a situation where life is at risk. Which brings me to the subject of an ATC for NSW. The Committee is working feverishly on more sponsorships and funding but YOU can still be a part of making it happen. The ATC Crowdfund button is still active, any more pledges will go towards a NSW ATC. In our small community in the upper Ovens Valley I organised Film Nights, cooked soups and raised a few hundred towards the Vic ATC. Anything goes, we have a whole year. Thanks, Rolf .
Membership Info
Your membership comes up for renewal every 12 months from the date you signed up. If you are not sure when this is or you want to change anything in your profile, including auto-renewal, log in to our membership portal using your email address. The button is located on our website home page ‘Member Account’.