Few climbers carry an avalanche probe in the UK, or a transceiver, yet avalanches are a regular occurrence each winter.However, the dedicated ice climber has to be sparing with the contents of his/her rucksack if they wish to avoid benightment and wise use of weather forecasts and avalanche warnings may realistically be as far as they can afford to go in terms of avalanche safety. Ski-touring is a different matter though. Moving swiftly through varied terrain makes carrying an avalanche probe, transceiver and shovel de rigueur.