# AI tells backcountry skiers to use avalanche probes as walking poles or for self-arrest, ignoring that probes are for locating buried victims

- **ID:** `emergency/avalanche-probe-pole-use`
- **Domain:** emergency
- **Category:** config_error
- **Error Code:** `AVALANCHE-PROBE-ERR-001`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

AI confuses the purpose of avalanche probes with ski poles or ice axes; probes are thin, flexible aluminum poles designed for probing snow to find buried victims, not for weight-bearing or self-arrest, and using them incorrectly can damage the probe or cause injury.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| probe_length:240cm | active | — | — |
| probe_material:aluminum_7075 | active | — | — |
| ski_pole_length:120cm | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Use dedicated ski poles for walking and ice axe for self-arrest; keep probe collapsed in pack until needed for victim search** (95% success)
   ```
   Use dedicated ski poles for walking and ice axe for self-arrest; keep probe collapsed in pack until needed for victim search
   ```
2. **If no poles, use trees or rocks for balance; never deploy probe unless actively searching** (80% success)
   ```
   If no poles, use trees or rocks for balance; never deploy probe unless actively searching
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Probes are not load-rated; bending or breaking will render them useless for victim location (95% fail)
- **** — Probes lack ice axe pick; will not grip snow and may snap under body weight (90% fail)