Winter Pack

Winter multiplies every beacon risk: batteries sag, seals stiffen, snow blocks antennas, and hypothermia shortens the response window. This page is the winter pack.

The winter additions

Item	Why
Two spare cells, inside pockets	Cold kills capacity (see Cold Weather Batteries)
Heated cell pouch or body placement	The cell must stay warm to deliver TX current
Glove-compatible antenna mount	Antennas snap in the cold
Signal mirror and whistle	Cold weather often means clear skies: daylight signaling works
Thermal blanket in the beacon pouch	The beacon pouch doubles as the survival kit (see Emergency Kit)

The battery strategy

1. Cell A: in the beacon, insulated.
2. Cell B: inside jacket, body heat.
3. Swap at the first sign of TX sag, not at the first low reading (see Battery Field Swap).

The snow antenna problem

Snow on the antenna adds loss and can detune it (see Snow and Signal Behavior). A quick wipe before an important burst helps; mounting the antenna clear of the pack’s snow collection points helps more.

The winter checks

• Seals: cold rubber seals stiffen; check the case seal closes fully (see Waterproofing).
• The 45-minute rule: in deep cold, check the beacon’s operation (a test burst) within 45 minutes of departure, not at the summit.
• The Pack Check Routine runs twice: at home and at the trailhead.

Related pages

• Winter Operations for the full winter playbook
• Cold Weather Batteries for the cells
• Avalanche Rescue Operation for the snow context