What technique was primarily used to locate avalanche victims before electronic transceivers?

Answer

Visual sighting and long metal probes

Before the invention of electronic transceivers, search and rescue operations were entirely dependent on visual markers, such as dropped poles, and the arduous task of using long metal probes. Rescuers had to perform these searches under high-stress, low-visibility conditions, which often resulted in slow, physically exhausting efforts that were frequently fruitless due to the nature of searching under deep, opaque snow.

What technique was primarily used to locate avalanche victims before electronic transceivers?
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