Avy tool testers wanted: AvySticker

Ruled-out lists and checklists are valuable. Skis are always visible and you always have them. Why not put useful information and tools right where you can see them? The AvySticker is a 75-mm wide sticker that goes on your ski.

The AvySticker is imperfect (the AIARE fieldbook is more-complete) but it's right there on your ski, and it helps you think about safety on the skintrack. Seeing a ruled-out list in your handwriting as you travel makes it easier to avoid unsavory terrain. Simple checklists are there to make you stop and think, but they can be part of the flow of your day.

I developed the AvySticker for my own use, and I like it enough to make it a thing.  More opinions and testers are useful, so I'm looking for help.

April, May, and June are still game-on for avalanches, and I want to get AvyStickers on skis in order to get durability information and in-field feedback.



I'm looking for testers who would be willing to trade space on a ski topsheet and thoughtful feedback for a free prototype AvySticker and grease-pencil stub.

If testing sounds fun, send a 2-3 sentence backcountry resume to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , with the word AvySticker in the subject line.

Feedback is very welcome. Thank you!.

You can learn more (or buy a prototype right now, if you like) at  www.avysticker.com . 

I think this is a great idea!, combined with a full backcountry communication protocol discussion before starting. If everyone in the group has one, you can't help but have a discussion about the route plan.

Nothing is automatic, checklists still take conscious effort. I think Charlie has an interesting idea here, but it still takes discipline.

Checklists are all the rage in the surgical world, copied from the airline industry in a effort to automate or institutionalize safety. The first preliminary studies looking at checklist effectiveness are disappointing. 98% of hospitals in Ontario Canada recently adopted pre-surgical checklists. After three months the rate of surgical complications and surgery-related deaths was unchanged. The researchers attributed the lack of benefit to spotty and minimal checklist training and lack of surgeon "buy-in" into the concept.

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1308261

Email sent

Nothing is automatic, checklists still take conscious effort. I think Charlie has an interesting idea here, but it still takes discipline.

Checklists are all the rage in the surgical world, copied from the airline industry in a effort to automate or institutionalize safety. The first preliminary studies looking at checklist effectiveness are disappointing. 98% of hospitals in Ontario Canada recently adopted pre-surgical checklists. After three months the rate of surgical complications and surgery-related deaths was unchanged. The researchers attributed the lack of benefit to spotty and minimal checklist training and lack of surgeon "buy-in" into the concept.

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1308261

Excellent counterpoint. (and recent, too!)

The idea here is to have a safety reminder close at hand. I've toured with the excellent ASAP logo (see the photo above) on my right ski tips for years, just as a reminder to look around with an eye for safety.

The prompts on the sticker are, by design, are not prescriptive; it doesn't tell you what to do with the answers to the stated questions. The AvySticker only brings up things that I, personally, don't want to forget.

It's just a sticker; it may not do anything at all. Good decisions and good luck are both prerequisite to many tens of years in the mountains. A sticker provides neither.

I think this is a great idea!,  combined with a full backcountry communication protocol discussion before starting.  If everyone in the group has one, you can't help but have a discussion about the route plan.

Email sent

Thanks!

First round of stickers went out this week - at least one is already on a ski, and another is headed for adventure in the Coast Range!

I have two batches coming in next week. Get in touch ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) if you'd like to try one out!   Once they're gone, it's probably the end of the free ones.

Feedback, as above, is greatly appreciated.

I've been iterating on the design, and I have some v0.11 prototypes left (fanned in the photo). If you want a free one, send your mailing address to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

You can check out the new design at avysticker.com

Comments and suggestions always appreciated!

One can only do so much dissertation work on a sunny Saturday -- Here's an informal video showing what it's like to fill in an AvySticker before a trip.