Meet Thredbo’s Newest Winter Addition – Avalanche Training Centre
Posted on 5 Jul, 2023 in On the Slopes
This winter, we are celebrating the installation of a new Avalanche Training Centre by Mountain Safety Collective.
Our backcountry program has grown massively in recent years as people look beyond the boundaries to experience the mountain in new ways so we’re constantly looking for new ways to grow and keep all of our guests and backcountry enthusiasts safe.
The new Avalanche Training Centre can be used by individuals looking to finesse their backcountry safety skills as well as by people who partake in our specialty tours. We will be incorporating the ATC into all of our Beginner Backcountry Tours this winter so guests will get a chance to familiarise themselves with avalanche safety equipment and transceiver search skills.
What is an Avalanche Training Centre?
An Avalanche Training Centre (ATC) provides a safe and controlled environment to practice searching for avalanche transceivers.
The ATC is a stationary system for training avalanche transceivers and probe searches. The control unit can handle between 5 and 16 transceiver signals that are buried permanently in the snow. These ATC transceivers emit the same signal as the avalanche beacon you have strapped to your chest in the backcountry, so can be detected by any well-known brand using the 457kHz international frequency standard.
In exercise mode, you simply choose the number of burials you want to search for and the time you want to give yourself. The control unit will choose the burials at random and your search time will be displayed on the screen after the exercise. The system is completely autonomous and powered by D-cell batteries that last the entire winter season.
Why Thredbo?
When Mountain Safety Collective (MSC) was trying to find a NSW location for the new Avalanche Training Centre, their key criteria was that it should be where a large number of people start their backcountry tours from, had reliable snow throughout the season and could be easily accessed for installation and maintenance.
Given the ability to install the ATC above 1900m, the huge number of people that start their backcountry tours from the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift and the scale of the backcountry operations that we offer, Thredbo ticked all the boxes.
As a key sponsor of MSC, we have been working closely with their team to secure the new ATC, committing to housing it for 5 years, guaranteeing ongoing security of the equipment and providing maintenance access. A massive shout-out must go to everyone who played a role in bringing this exciting project to life!
Where To Find Thredbo's ATC
To access the ATC, take the Kosciuszko Chairlift and skin around the back of Eagle’s Nest, towards the top of The Basin T-Bar and you’ll see the main sign on the right-hand side above the Supertrail. This is right on the main route that everyone takes to access the Ramshead Range, Leatherbarrel Creek, Etheridge and Kosciuszko.
Once there, you can follow the instructions on the sign to set up a search of up to three beacons at a time (out of six possible locations) with options on the time to complete the search in. The ATC is free for anyone to use when the resort is open and full details about the ATC operation are available on the manufacturer’s website.
To find out more about our backcountry programs, please click here.
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Thredbo sits on the traditional land of the Monero – Ngarigo people who have looked after this land, water and community for over 60,000 years. We thank them for all they have done and continue to do to look after their country, a special place which we all love and respect.
