Inside the Mountain Rescue Frontline: A Reporter’s Firsthand Experience of the Terror of Being Buried Alive in an Avalanche — As Backcountry Accidents Surge in Hokkaido, Rescue Teams Battle Extreme Conditions

Beacons: The Lifeline That Detects Signals of Life

An essential tool for rescuing avalanche victims is the “beacon.”

This device transmits and receives radio signals to locate people buried under snow. The beacons used by rescue teams can detect signals from up to 50 meters away.

During training, rescuers search for a beacon buried in the snow.

Reporter:
“16… 17… 15… 14…”

The smaller the number displayed on the beacon device, the closer the rescuer is to the victim. Once the approximate location is identified, rescuers insert a long metal probe into the snow to feel for the buried person.

Rescue team member:
“Did you feel anything?”

Reporter:
“Yes, something hard.”

As the team carefully dug through the snow, a black object appeared. It was the beacon they had been searching for.