Installed on the backpack

Here we go. I installed it on my good old North face Backpack.

I made a little bag for the respirator. I made a mesh patch so the air is easily sucked inside the intake. Moreover it prevents the intake from clugging with snow.

I secured the whole thing with 2 velcro straps that wrap around the shoud strap. No way it goes anywhere.

I'll glue on the mouthpiece once I have made all the stitching nice (finish is not the best yet). I'll then add a zap strap and heat shrink the connection. That is the weak point I want really strong.

The mouthpiece iteself is awesome. It won't break when cold !! You can bite it hard. It won't get ripped out of your mouth.

The exhaust hose runs outside of the pack. I attach it on the other side of the back pack.

Next experiment is with hydration system. I'll run the hose through the Hydration sleeve and out through the zipper.

Prototype #1- PARTS

Here are the parts you'll need :One-way valve, Qty=2

wye, Qty = 1

Mouthpiece (not shown on the pictures), Qty =1

Corrugated tubing. Lengths will depend on your backpack.

Miniature Zap straps, Qty=3

Straps, Qty=2

Stuff the tube you'll breath from with a porous flexible fabric or material (Blue). This will prevent the tube from collapsing when you suck air in. Make a bunch of hole along the tube. You want as many different intakes as possible in case the snow clugs your tube.

Make sure the direction of the valve are right. Air IN for the breather (blue), Air OUT for the expeller.

Connect everything together. Glue or zap strap the ends over the fittings.

Strap the Wye on your shoulder strap. Strap the tubes higher up. Direct the expell tube in your back pack or strap it on the opposite side. The breathing tube can stick out, No Pb as long as it's well hooked to the fitting. It's actually better to leave it free. The avalanche can just snap it off if it's straps up.

Here is what it looks like on my back pack.

I am making a little bag to make it look pretty. However you can wear it like that.

Make sure everything is tightely attached, pulling very hard on the tubes. An avalanche will have the same effect, trying to rip it of your back pack.

Just do It Yourself

This page explains how you can make yourself a respirator that will add precious minutes to your survival if you get burried in an avalanche.

If you get burried in an avalanche and are not yet severaly injured or dead, you'll quickly face the next deadly risk : suffocation. Basically the snowpack that surrounds you contains lots of oxygen you can breath from. However when you breath, you expel vapor saturated air. This vapor then condensates and freezes in front of you mouth. This creates a "mask" that screens you from the snowpack. You then start rebreathing the Co2 you expelled. Suffocation starts.

The solution is to expel the Co2 away from your air intake. Such snowpack respirator already exists. Avalung http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/ski/avalung/ is the only product

available on the market. It's very well engineered and has proven results.

If you can't afford the 130$ or if you just want to add this feature to your actual backpack, just make it yourself !!.

I have made a few prototypes that are working really well. I just need to make it pretty.

I'll post where to find all the parts soon. Stay tuned.

Always remember that this respirator is an extra tool to get more chances to be digged out alive. In no manner it prevents you from being stupid and taking inconsiderate risks.

Have fun in the mountain and stay safe.

Cheers.