Klingon Warrior
Active member
Special Public Avalanche Warning for
Backcountry Recreationists in Southeast BC
March 11, 2011, Revelstoke, BC: The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a special public avalanche warning for southeast BC. This warning includes the mountainous areas from the US border north through Moyie and Cranbrook to Wasa, and east through Sparwood to the Alberta border. This warning is in effect immediately and will extend through the weekend to at least Tuesday March 15.
A recent storm dropped a large amount of snow in the area, explains Karl Klassen, Manager of the CAC’s Public Avalanche Warning Service. “The warm and heavy snow has added a significant load to the snowpack,” says Klassen. “Continuing warm temperatures and additional snowfall have the potential to create large and destructive avalanches, running to valley bottom.”
The CAC is advising all backcountry users to avoid avalanche terrain. “Skiers and snowmobilers should be especially wary of stopping or regrouping in areas exposed to avalanche terrain from above, even in valley bottoms,” adds Klassen. “This is not the time to be making aggressive terrain choices.”
Every member of a backcountry party needs to be equipped with a shovel, probe and transceiver. The CAC strongly recommends that all backcountry users take an avalanche awareness course. Snowpack stability changes constantly throughout the winter; backcountry users need to check the avalanche bulletin regularly to keep informed of conditions in their area. Avalanche bulletins are can be found at Welcome to avalanche.ca.
—30—
For more information contact:
Karl Klassen, Manager Public Avalanche Warning Service
James Floyer, Public Avalanche Forecaster
250.837.2141 (227)
KEY MESSAGES MARCH 11, 2011
Recent snow and warm temperatures have produced large, destructive avalanches in this region recently.
We’re anticipating more avalanche activity with continuing warm temperatures and additional snowfall.
We’re especially concerned with aggressive terrain use. Skiers and sledders on large, steep features are especially at risk.
There’s a deeply buried (2 -3 – m) weak layer from mid-January that’s become overloaded. When triggered, this will produce large, un-survivable avalanches.
We are expecting both natural avalanches and human-triggered avalanches.
Avoid avalanche terrain. Choose simple terrain, smaller features.
You don’t need to be on the slope to be affected. Don’t stop or regroup inthe runout zone, even in valley bottoms,
This warning applies to recreational backcountry users.
Professionals have well-established safety protocols and a wide network of support systems in place that allow them to operate in these sorts of conditions. They track the conditions very carefully and know how to use their terrain to its best advantage.
Inside ski area boundaries, the risk of avalanches is closely monitored and controlled.
Fatalities this season:
Date Location Province Activity Involvement Injury Fatality
2010-12-28 Coquihalla Summit, Illal Mountain SE shoulder BC Snowmobiling 1 0 1 View
2011-01-15 Burstall Pass, Kananaskis Country AB Backcountry Skiing 2 - 2 View
2011-01-16 Mt Tanal: Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park BC Backcountry Skiing 1 1 1 View
2011-01-23 N Rockies Albright Ridge BC Snowmobiling 2 1 1 View
2011-02-05 Smithers; Microwave Tower snowmobiling area BC Snowmobiling 1 - 1 View
2011-02-19 Rocky Mtns Hope Ck Snowmobile Area BC Snowmobiling 4 1 3 View
2011-02-26 Tom George Mtn, Smithers BC BC Backcountry Skiing 3 1 2 View
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Our mailing address is:
Canadian Avalanche Association
110 Mackenzie Ave.
P. O. Box 2759
Revelstoke, British Columbia V0E2S0
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Copyright (C) 2011 Canadian Avalanche Association All rights reserved.
Backcountry Recreationists in Southeast BC
March 11, 2011, Revelstoke, BC: The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a special public avalanche warning for southeast BC. This warning includes the mountainous areas from the US border north through Moyie and Cranbrook to Wasa, and east through Sparwood to the Alberta border. This warning is in effect immediately and will extend through the weekend to at least Tuesday March 15.
A recent storm dropped a large amount of snow in the area, explains Karl Klassen, Manager of the CAC’s Public Avalanche Warning Service. “The warm and heavy snow has added a significant load to the snowpack,” says Klassen. “Continuing warm temperatures and additional snowfall have the potential to create large and destructive avalanches, running to valley bottom.”
The CAC is advising all backcountry users to avoid avalanche terrain. “Skiers and snowmobilers should be especially wary of stopping or regrouping in areas exposed to avalanche terrain from above, even in valley bottoms,” adds Klassen. “This is not the time to be making aggressive terrain choices.”
Every member of a backcountry party needs to be equipped with a shovel, probe and transceiver. The CAC strongly recommends that all backcountry users take an avalanche awareness course. Snowpack stability changes constantly throughout the winter; backcountry users need to check the avalanche bulletin regularly to keep informed of conditions in their area. Avalanche bulletins are can be found at Welcome to avalanche.ca.
—30—
For more information contact:
Karl Klassen, Manager Public Avalanche Warning Service
James Floyer, Public Avalanche Forecaster
250.837.2141 (227)
KEY MESSAGES MARCH 11, 2011
Recent snow and warm temperatures have produced large, destructive avalanches in this region recently.
We’re anticipating more avalanche activity with continuing warm temperatures and additional snowfall.
We’re especially concerned with aggressive terrain use. Skiers and sledders on large, steep features are especially at risk.
There’s a deeply buried (2 -3 – m) weak layer from mid-January that’s become overloaded. When triggered, this will produce large, un-survivable avalanches.
We are expecting both natural avalanches and human-triggered avalanches.
Avoid avalanche terrain. Choose simple terrain, smaller features.
You don’t need to be on the slope to be affected. Don’t stop or regroup inthe runout zone, even in valley bottoms,
This warning applies to recreational backcountry users.
Professionals have well-established safety protocols and a wide network of support systems in place that allow them to operate in these sorts of conditions. They track the conditions very carefully and know how to use their terrain to its best advantage.
Inside ski area boundaries, the risk of avalanches is closely monitored and controlled.
Fatalities this season:
Date Location Province Activity Involvement Injury Fatality
2010-12-28 Coquihalla Summit, Illal Mountain SE shoulder BC Snowmobiling 1 0 1 View
2011-01-15 Burstall Pass, Kananaskis Country AB Backcountry Skiing 2 - 2 View
2011-01-16 Mt Tanal: Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park BC Backcountry Skiing 1 1 1 View
2011-01-23 N Rockies Albright Ridge BC Snowmobiling 2 1 1 View
2011-02-05 Smithers; Microwave Tower snowmobiling area BC Snowmobiling 1 - 1 View
2011-02-19 Rocky Mtns Hope Ck Snowmobile Area BC Snowmobiling 4 1 3 View
2011-02-26 Tom George Mtn, Smithers BC BC Backcountry Skiing 3 1 2 View
You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the SPAW notification email on Avalanche.ca.
Manage Your Subscriptions | | Forward to a friend | Update your profile
Our mailing address is:
Canadian Avalanche Association
110 Mackenzie Ave.
P. O. Box 2759
Revelstoke, British Columbia V0E2S0
Add us to your address book
Copyright (C) 2011 Canadian Avalanche Association All rights reserved.
