You spread out and continue north. Fifteen minutes later you hear your friend yell, "Avalanche!" You watch her disappear under a mass of moving snow. You wait until the snow stops moving and yell for her. You hear nothing. Which option would you choose to begin your rescue?
Switch everyones beacon to receive and begin a beacon search. When you reach the pinpoint stage, two people get out their probes and shovels while one person pinpoints with the beacon.
Switch everyones beacon to receive and divide the duties of the search. One person searches, one person gets their shovel and probe ready, the fourth person stays in a safe spot and observes.