The Canadian Avalanche Centre is advising people to be extra cautious in the backcountry after four avalanche fatalities in the past six days.
The CAC says all backcountry users should make conservative decisions in avalanche terrain and make sure they have the essential equipment.
“We’ve been dealt a pretty troublesome snowpack this season and our terrain choices need to reflect that fact,” said Karl Klassen, Manager of the CAC’s Public Avalanche Warning Service. “The weak layers we’ve been tracking for many weeks remain a significant problem and areas where you might have felt safe in previous seasons may not be the best choices this winter.”
The CAC says two of the fatalities involved snowmobilers who were in cut-blocks, which are areas below the treeline that are cleared by logging companies.
“Often, riding below treeline can be a safer choice in terms of avalanche danger,” said Klassen. “But with the current warm temperatures and wet snow at low elevations, that’s not the case at this time. Riders need to be wary of avalanche terrain even near valley bottom, at least until a solid freeze occurs.”
The CAC recommends:
- Travelling on small, simple, low-angle terrain with no terrain traps
- Avoid exposure to large slopes and cornices above whenever possible
- Carry essential safety equipment for avalanche terrain including an avalanche transceiver, a probe and a shovel
- Airbags are recommended
Klassen says it is vital that everyone in the party be familiar with and practice using this equipment because there is no time to go for help when an avalanche happens.
Experts say rescuers have just 10 minutes to find and extricate a victim, when there is an 80 per cent chance of survival and those odds drop dramatically after that. At just 35 minutes, there’s a less than 10 chance of survival.
For further information on the current conditions, please see the CAC Forecaster’s Blog HERE.
For warnings and alerts, visit the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s website.
