Beacon Park Offers Backcountry Users A Place To Practice Their Lifesaving Skills
FRISCO, Colo. (CBS4) - A unique and free park is now open in Summit County, and using the park could end up saving your life.
The Frisco Avalanche Beacon Park, located at the Frisco Adventure Park, is now open to the public.
Eight buried transmitters located in the park are controlled by a central panel. Once you activate the beacon you can search for those buried "victims."
"A lot of people have the proper avalanche response gear, a shovel, probe and beacon, but don't know how to use them properly," Summit County Rescue Group member Charles Pitman told CBS4 Sunday.
The park allows backcountry users to test new beacons and their skills before heading out into the backcountry and finding themselves in a serious situation where they need to know how to rescue a buried friend.
"The first 15 minutes in an avalanche if someone is buried are critical, and you need to know how to help the people you are with," Pitman added.
The beacon park concept is one of the only in Colorado, but there are other parks across the Western U.S., according to the Summit County Rescue Group.
To use the park you will just need to bring your beacon, some D batteries and a shovel and probe. It is open through the rest of the winter season.
Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.