{
  "id": "safety/avalanche-safety-beacon-probe-shovel",
  "signature": "AI tells a backcountry skier that an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel are optional if traveling with a guide, or that a smartphone app can replace a beacon",
  "signature_zh": "AI告诉野外滑雪者，如果与向导同行，雪崩信标、探杆和铲子是可选装备，或者智能手机应用可以替代信标",
  "regex": "(avalanche.*(beacon|transceiver|probe|shovel).*(optional|guide|app|smartphone|phone))",
  "domain": "safety",
  "category": "physical_safety",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Avalanche beacons operate on 457 kHz radio frequency with specific signal patterns; smartphone apps lack reliable transmit power, battery life, and signal processing for burial detection under snow.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "雪崩信标使用457 kHz特定频率和信号模式；智能手机应用缺乏可靠的发射功率、电池续航和雪埋检测信号处理能力。",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "Avalanche Beacon 457 kHz standard (EN 300718)",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "AAWS Danger Scale",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Smartphone GPS is inaccurate under snow; battery drains quickly in cold; signal strength is too weak for 30+ meter search strips; no multiple-burial support.",
      "fail_rate": 0.99,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "A buried person has ~15 minutes survival (hypoxia); digging with hands or ski takes 5-10x longer than a shovel; guides may be buried too.",
      "fail_rate": 0.9,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Ski poles are too short, not rigid, and lack depth markings; probing accuracy drops from ~95% to ~20% for a 1m burial.",
      "fail_rate": 0.95,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Always carry a 457 kHz avalanche beacon (e.g., BCA Tracker 4, Pieps DSP Pro), a 240+ cm collapsible probe, and a metal avalanche shovel. Practice beacon search drills before each trip.",
      "success_rate": 0.98,
      "how": "Always carry a 457 kHz avalanche beacon (e.g., BCA Tracker 4, Pieps DSP Pro), a 240+ cm collapsible probe, and a metal avalanche shovel. Practice beacon search drills before each trip.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Set beacon to 'transmit' before entering avalanche terrain. Perform a group beacon check (signal test) at the trailhead. Keep beacon under outer layer but accessible.",
      "success_rate": 0.95,
      "how": "Set beacon to 'transmit' before entering avalanche terrain. Perform a group beacon check (signal test) at the trailhead. Keep beacon under outer layer but accessible.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Take an AIARE Level 1 or equivalent avalanche safety course. Learn to interpret avalanche forecasts (avalanche.org). Carry a first aid kit and know basic wilderness first aid.",
      "success_rate": 0.92,
      "how": "Take an AIARE Level 1 or equivalent avalanche safety course. Learn to interpret avalanche forecasts (avalanche.org). Carry a first aid kit and know basic wilderness first aid.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [
    "Always carry a 457 kHz avalanche beacon (e.g., BCA Tracker 4, Pieps DSP Pro), a 240+ cm collapsible probe, and a metal avalanche shovel. Practice beacon search drills before each trip.",
    "Set beacon to 'transmit' before entering avalanche terrain. Perform a group beacon check (signal test) at the trailhead. Keep beacon under outer layer but accessible.",
    "Take an AIARE Level 1 or equivalent avalanche safety course. Learn to interpret avalanche forecasts (avalanche.org). Carry a first aid kit and know basic wilderness first aid."
  ],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": "https://avalanche.org/avalanche-safety/beacon-probe-shovel/",
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.87,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.95,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-10",
  "last_confirmed": "2024-06-01",
  "last_updated": "2024-06-01",
  "evidence_count": 1,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": []
}