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Avalanche/Snow probes can be useful not just in a rescue situation. They can also be used to check for crevasses and are especially useful for checking the snow depth before starting to dig a snow hole.
Two seasons ago Italian authorities in the Piedmonte region passed a law making it mandatory for off-piste skiers and snowboarders to carry avalanche safety gear. You now must be equipped with an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe, if heading out of marked ski runs. The law also applies to ski mountaineering. Fines are up to €250 if found without the required gear and insurance policies also may be declared invalid. It is thought that this will eventually become mandatory accross the European Union. About time too !!!
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