What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"I keep the Pro Guide Shovel in my avy kit all winter. It's light enough for long tours but sturdy when it counts. The telescoping shaft is super intuitive, and the large blade moves snow fast-especially when every second matters."When we're heading deep into the backcountry, reliability isn't optional-it's essential. The Pro Guide Shovel is built for demanding alpine missions, offering the efficiency and durability we need for professional-grade rescue scenarios or rapid snow pit analysis. Designed by experts for long tours, this medium-sized shovel packs in critical features: a telescoping oval shaft for strength and easy handling, a 90-degree Easy Plug clearing function, and a large, sharp blade with high sidewalls for maximum snow displacement. Whether we're digging pits or practicing rescue drills, the hardened, anodized aluminum construction and UIAA 156 certification give us confidence when conditions are anything but forgiving.