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Metal Detector finding lost skis

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CamBrowne
Posts: 1830 - Karma: 99
I lost a prohet 130 this weekend up in whistler. Im considering buying a metal detector and going back up there to get it.
Does anyone have any experiences with using a metal detector to find skis? Im just worried that there might be metals in the actual rock under the snow that might set it off.

Any advice?
Nov 17 2009 7:43PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
It's worth a shot.  Still, you are going to have to cover a lot of ground.  Good news is that it will be there in the spring. 

I was skiing with a girl when I was a rep for Head, and she was skiing on some of my demos.  She fell, lost a ski and we looked for a long time.  We never found it.  Had to ski down with her on my back.  Went up in early summer on my mountain bike; there it was. 
Nov 17 2009 7:50PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Losing a ski must be one of the worst feelings ever.
Nov 17 2009 7:57PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
I guess that would increase your chances of finding it, but there's still a huge area you have to cover. The prophet's have metal in them right, you should check to see if a metal detector even picks it up, ie take a detector and use it on your other ski. Maybe you can rent one too, cause unless you like to look for buried treasure, you probably won't have much use for it afterwards.
Nov 17 2009 8:02PM
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elliot.
Posts: 23 - Karma: 31

One of the guys i worked with last year tried using a metal detector to find a lost ski but didnt have any luck..... this is after 10 people helped him for around 2 hours looking and digging.... The main problem was that the area which skis can possibly shoot off into is huge....

Then judging by the amount of snow whistler just got its going to be a long shot for sure trying to find it.... you can allways wait until the spring? good luck

Nov 17 2009 8:09PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
A guy I met at Baker last week had Recco chips glued to his skis.
Nov 17 2009 8:12PM
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yojimbo
Posts: 3631 - Karma: 27
true story: my brother hit a jump at the bottom of barker park at sunday river, ate shit, lost his ski, brakes failed, ski went straight down the kill into the pond that is underneath the chairlift. some hardcore sunday river employee busted out a dry suit and fetched it for his lucky ass.
Nov 17 2009 8:14PM
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WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
haha, good idea
Nov 17 2009 8:19PM
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Capurnicus
Posts: 9947 - Karma: 1,886
Yes, I have had experience with a metal detector finding lost skis. My very first run at Alta I lost my hellbent for a good four or five hours, and I just couldn't find that shit, because it was just too steep and too deep. Luckily there is this dude at Alta who will get your ski for you, he has a metal detector, and he comes out and searches hardcore for that shit. He was all up on some crazy steep line getting his skis all fucked on the rocks in order to get my ski. It took him a good 25 minutes, but he found that shit, and I was soo fucking stoked. I can't remember what the fee was, but it was exponentially less than a new pair of bents and binders. Craziest introduction to a mountain ever, I was like whoa I better checkity check check myself!
Nov 17 2009 8:22PM
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Ian-
Posts: 47 - Karma: 10
This is an amazing post, Capurnicus.

But I would say give it a shot, hopefully you'll find it.
Nov 17 2009 8:32PM
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TMAC881
Posts: 455 - Karma: 18
great ppl in the above two post's stories :)
Nov 17 2009 8:36PM
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CamBrowne
Posts: 1830 - Karma: 99
I found a metal detector on craigslist for like 40$ so i think im gonna hop on that. The only other problem is that whis has had more then a meter of snow since then, do you think ill be able to get a signal from that far away?
Nov 17 2009 8:39PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
oh my fuck no way. I always go over that pond when I'm on the lift and everytime me and my snowboard friend think, what would happen if we fell and the net broke and we fell in the pond. Hah thats awesome.
Nov 17 2009 8:42PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
what a champ
he deserves beer for his efforts
Nov 17 2009 8:43PM
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nwsteeze
Posts: 329 - Karma: 122
good luck with that man, check the bottom of the run fosho incase it shot down ther
Nov 17 2009 8:45PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
That's intense.
Nov 17 2009 8:47PM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
Deserves more than a beer for that, that would be cold as fuck.
Nov 17 2009 11:06PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
my former ski coach lost a ski at Alta. spent the rest of the day looking for it, but in the end he marked the spot and left for the night. went down into SLC and rented a metal detector and found them the next day...

he said it was under 6ft of snow. crazy.
Nov 17 2009 11:18PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 20
I had a friend that lost his ski one time in the BC. rented a metal detector and went back up. He was like 15 at the time. Found it and everything.
Nov 17 2009 11:27PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
woman needs to learn how to one-ski
Nov 18 2009 12:09AM
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jibbinc.
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 2,497
If you happen to find a Armada JJ up there, shoot me a PM. My bro got ONE ski stolen, and his friend got ONE ARG stolen because they put them together. The fuckers took one of each ski and now my bros out 1000$ for new skis and bindings, fuckiung bullshit. We have a crazy feeling it was some dumbfuck snowboarders who just burried one ski to fuck around.
Nov 18 2009 12:13AM
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Samckoy
Posts: 381 - Karma: 66
Where on whistler did you lose your skis? I ski the mountain a lot, and who knows, if i find it I'll let you know. As for ^^, I'll keep my eye out for a JJ and ARG. What year models? I would be so pissed if that was my JJ...
Nov 18 2009 12:21AM
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shortdawg
Posts: 1359 - Karma: 19
I would flip shit. Hope you find them and i'll keep a look out
Nov 18 2009 12:26AM
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jibbinc.
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 2,497
PM JCPow, hes my bro. He could give you some more details.
Nov 18 2009 12:36AM
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CamBrowne
Posts: 1830 - Karma: 99
It was in vd cutes, under a small steep creek area. Its a 06-07 prophet 130, with a black and orange rossi pivot14 binding
thanks man
Nov 18 2009 12:37AM
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snowaddict91
Posts: 223 - Karma: 11
I wouldn't be too happy about that if I was a rescuer and I dug up a pair of skis when i was looking for avy victims
Nov 18 2009 12:39AM
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DG.3
Posts: 794 - Karma: 288
ill keep an eye out this weekend
Nov 18 2009 12:47AM
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gnarles.
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 130
there is this home less person up at whistler and if you pay him and give him the name of what u lost in the spring he will go get them for you
Nov 18 2009 1:14AM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
...unless they're worth more than what you pay him.  then he'll just pawn that shit
Nov 18 2009 2:10AM
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Ski4frnt4445
Posts: 420 - Karma: 132
the snow monster ate 1 of my skis once. never got it back :(
Nov 18 2009 2:16AM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
ski patrol will probably have a metal detector, go talk to them before buying one yourself.
Nov 18 2009 2:18AM
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TheStamos
Posts: 9311 - Karma: 910
There is a big fucking pond at squaw like that but its roped off, still have people walk-in across it all the time, ski marks and boot prints. People are idiots.Someone is going to go through it someday , and there gonna pay , i couldn't imagine how cold it would be.
Nov 18 2009 3:19AM
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27

READ THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THISREAD THIS

USING RECCO REFLECTORS ON YOUR SKIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA. IF YOUR SKIS WERE TO COME OFF IN AN AVALANCHE, THEY COULD PROLONG THE SEARCH EFFORT BY MAKING IT HARDER TO FIND YOU.

ONLY ATTACH THE REFLECTORS TO SOMETHING THAT IS GUARANTEED TO STAY ON YOU, LIKE A JACKET OR PANTS OR BOOTS.

Nov 18 2009 3:38AM
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SmokeyTheBear
Posts: 492 - Karma: 24
^ yeah i have a feeling that could backfire badly. "Here he is I found him!, Oh never mind it's just a ski.. . .shit."
Nov 18 2009 10:53AM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
the recco system isn't really designed for search and rescue, it's more of a last effort body recovery thing. By the time you get outside help to come and search with the recco system, the odds of you still being alive are very, very small.


Nov 18 2009 11:08AM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
AND i've also heard that the recco system may actually mess with the signal of your transceiver... don't know how much meat that holds though.
Nov 18 2009 11:14AM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
Normally I'd agree with you, but she was a ballerina, with a butt that you could bounce quarters off of.  She made it worth it.  :-D
Nov 18 2009 11:33AM
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WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
what was your DIN at
Nov 18 2009 12:09PM
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omIV
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 306
bahaha excellent
Nov 18 2009 12:16PM
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skibikeclambake
Posts: 2346 - Karma: 27
RECCO® is an avalanche rescue system utilized by more than 600 rescue organizations worldwide to assist in the efficient location of burials. RECCO technology enables rapid directional pinpointing of a victim’s precise location using harmonic radar. The two-part system consists of a RECCO® detector used by organized rescue groups, and RECCO® reflectors that are integrated into apparel, helmets, protection gear or boots. The reflector is permanently affixed, requires no training for use and needs no batteries to function.

Although similar in search procedure to transceivers, the RECCO system is not intended for self-rescue nor is it an alternative to transceiver use in the backcountry. Complementary in function, the system is an additional tool that does not interfere with other rescue methods such as avalanche dogs, transceiver searches or probe lines. The RECCO system facilitates a faster organized search for rescuers and provides skiers and snowboarders with one more chance to be found in time.

Nov 18 2009 12:30PM
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fouldsys
Posts: 7404 - Karma: 39
^sure its designed to do that, but it rarely does. by the time an s and r team gets there with the recco device you have very slim chances of still being alive. it could take hours.
Nov 18 2009 12:35PM
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Moses
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 564
does that guy also find lost items at snowbird ?
Nov 18 2009 12:39PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
This is along the lines of what I was thinking. I'd rather not find a ski at the end when I've been spending time thinking I'm digging up my friend.
Nov 18 2009 12:39PM
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highaltNM
Posts: 552 - Karma: 52
This.....  I lost both of my skis while skiing in washington when they double ejected in about 6 feet of pow.  I looked for about 2 hours and had no luck.  Went down to the patrol station, plead my case.  The dude was so cool that right then he snagged his metal detector, we hopped on a snowmobile, went back up and found both skis in about an hour and a half.  They were buried under about 8 feet of snow. 

Nov 18 2009 12:41PM
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snowaddict91
Posts: 223 - Karma: 11
Exactly...even if it is a body recovery, i don't want to find a ski instead of my friend
Nov 18 2009 12:41PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i heard of ppl attaching a long banner to their skis, they store the banner in their boot or something, then when the ski ejects, the banner is pulled out and trails your ski....

you'll find a long banner easier than you'll find a ski....
Nov 18 2009 12:44PM
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lineskier10
Posts: 11339 - Karma: 796
ya mad people have these neon banners at alta and they probably work pretty well
Nov 18 2009 12:52PM
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TMAC881
Posts: 455 - Karma: 18
are these custom/hand made or does a company make these? (do you buy them)
Nov 25 2009 11:22AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i have no idea, i've only heard rumours about these :D
Nov 25 2009 11:37AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Powder straps, every shop has them.
Nov 25 2009 11:49AM
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