Dry conditions create weak snowpack but avalanches not epidemic, says expert
at 18:38 on March 22, 2010, EDT.
Tamsyn Burgmann, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Share|VANCOUVER, B.C. - Dry, warm conditions earlier this season led to a hair-trigger snowpack in the mountains of British Columbia in recent weeks, and three slides in just over a week took five lives.
RCMP issued a public appeal Monday for people to err on the side of caution when venturing off the beaten path in the B.C. backcountry.
"Living in British Columbia, we are lucky to have some of the most spectacular outdoor areas in the world, and winter and spring activities frequently bring people into back country areas," Insp. Tim Shields said in a statement.
It's "vitally important" to prepare and not put oneself at risk, he said.
"We would ask that people err on the side of caution when the risks are high."
Yet despite the deaths, this winter has actually seen fewer tragedies than usual, say experts.
There there have been nine deaths from avalanches in B.C. so far this season, compared to 14 annually on average across the nation, said Greg Johnson, an avalanche forecaster at the Canadian Avalanche Centre based in Revelstoke, B.C.
It's also a fraction of the 26 deaths last year. Between 1999 and 2009, 144 people were killed by avalanches in Canada.
"I would say we're doing OK so far as the averages go," said Johnson.
Still, the three major slides from March 13 to March 20 have prompted calls for action.
The first of the recent avalanches, on Boulder Mountain, in particular could have seen a death toll so massive it would have reached global catastrophe proportions, Johnson said. There were about 200 snowmobilers, including children, beneath the mountain when the slope let go, yet only two died.
"This first accident that was a very, very big deal," he said.
"I think that we do need to put all of this into a perspective a little bit (because) that was pretty far outside the box, that was not a normal avalanche accident."
That was followed by a slide on nearby Eagle Pass Mountain on Friday, which killed one person, and another in Wells Gray provincial park, near Clearwater, B.C., on Saturday that killed two heli-skiers.
The deaths, all of which occurred despite warnings from the avalanche centre of a high risk of slides, have re-ignited debate about whether adventure-seekers should hit the powder at all, and what can be done to prevent further mishaps.
Warnings throughout B.C. have been issued frequently this year, in large part owing to a warm and dry winter associated with the weather phenomenon El Nino, Johnson explained.
When there is no snow for days or even weeks, it allows weaknesses to form in the snowpack. When it begins to snow again, those weaknesses are buried, creating instability.
"You've got a real weakness and add a big pile of snow on top of it ... it overloads those weaknesses in the snowpack (which) can't support it and you get an avalanche," Johnson said.
El Nino was active in previous years when devastating avalanches caused fear among backcountry users.
The 2002-2003 winter season saw 29 avalanche deaths in B.C. and Alberta - the worst in almost 40 years.
Among the dead were seven adult heli-skiers hit by a slide on Jan. 20, 2003 on Durrand Glacier, near Revelstoke. Less than two weeks later, seven Calgary-area teens were swept to their deaths on Feb. 1, 2003 while hiking in Glacier National Park nearby.
Government and agencies were scrambling to review safety systems, and the province begin contributing $125,000 annually to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, which was increased to $150,000 in 2009.
Some 21 people died in avalanches between 1997-1998, including Michel Trudeau, son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
Last year's two-dozen deaths in B.C. alone prompted the B.C. Coroner's Service to launch a death review panel, which came back with 15 recommendations that officials say they're working towards implementing.
A revised avalanche warning system was rolled out last week by Parks Canada, meant to give a clearer picture of avalanche dangers.
"Johnson said there's no reason to shut the backcountry down all together, and he said the frequency of slides normally begins to drop off in April, in any event.
There's lots of very low angle and safe terrain, people can go out and have a very good time in the mountains," he said. "The absolute key is to figure out where your lower risk are."
at 18:38 on March 22, 2010, EDT.
Tamsyn Burgmann, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Share|VANCOUVER, B.C. - Dry, warm conditions earlier this season led to a hair-trigger snowpack in the mountains of British Columbia in recent weeks, and three slides in just over a week took five lives.
RCMP issued a public appeal Monday for people to err on the side of caution when venturing off the beaten path in the B.C. backcountry.
"Living in British Columbia, we are lucky to have some of the most spectacular outdoor areas in the world, and winter and spring activities frequently bring people into back country areas," Insp. Tim Shields said in a statement.
It's "vitally important" to prepare and not put oneself at risk, he said.
"We would ask that people err on the side of caution when the risks are high."
Yet despite the deaths, this winter has actually seen fewer tragedies than usual, say experts.
There there have been nine deaths from avalanches in B.C. so far this season, compared to 14 annually on average across the nation, said Greg Johnson, an avalanche forecaster at the Canadian Avalanche Centre based in Revelstoke, B.C.
It's also a fraction of the 26 deaths last year. Between 1999 and 2009, 144 people were killed by avalanches in Canada.
"I would say we're doing OK so far as the averages go," said Johnson.
Still, the three major slides from March 13 to March 20 have prompted calls for action.
The first of the recent avalanches, on Boulder Mountain, in particular could have seen a death toll so massive it would have reached global catastrophe proportions, Johnson said. There were about 200 snowmobilers, including children, beneath the mountain when the slope let go, yet only two died.
"This first accident that was a very, very big deal," he said.
"I think that we do need to put all of this into a perspective a little bit (because) that was pretty far outside the box, that was not a normal avalanche accident."
That was followed by a slide on nearby Eagle Pass Mountain on Friday, which killed one person, and another in Wells Gray provincial park, near Clearwater, B.C., on Saturday that killed two heli-skiers.
The deaths, all of which occurred despite warnings from the avalanche centre of a high risk of slides, have re-ignited debate about whether adventure-seekers should hit the powder at all, and what can be done to prevent further mishaps.
Warnings throughout B.C. have been issued frequently this year, in large part owing to a warm and dry winter associated with the weather phenomenon El Nino, Johnson explained.
When there is no snow for days or even weeks, it allows weaknesses to form in the snowpack. When it begins to snow again, those weaknesses are buried, creating instability.
"You've got a real weakness and add a big pile of snow on top of it ... it overloads those weaknesses in the snowpack (which) can't support it and you get an avalanche," Johnson said.
El Nino was active in previous years when devastating avalanches caused fear among backcountry users.
The 2002-2003 winter season saw 29 avalanche deaths in B.C. and Alberta - the worst in almost 40 years.
Among the dead were seven adult heli-skiers hit by a slide on Jan. 20, 2003 on Durrand Glacier, near Revelstoke. Less than two weeks later, seven Calgary-area teens were swept to their deaths on Feb. 1, 2003 while hiking in Glacier National Park nearby.
Government and agencies were scrambling to review safety systems, and the province begin contributing $125,000 annually to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, which was increased to $150,000 in 2009.
Some 21 people died in avalanches between 1997-1998, including Michel Trudeau, son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
Last year's two-dozen deaths in B.C. alone prompted the B.C. Coroner's Service to launch a death review panel, which came back with 15 recommendations that officials say they're working towards implementing.
A revised avalanche warning system was rolled out last week by Parks Canada, meant to give a clearer picture of avalanche dangers.
"Johnson said there's no reason to shut the backcountry down all together, and he said the frequency of slides normally begins to drop off in April, in any event.
There's lots of very low angle and safe terrain, people can go out and have a very good time in the mountains," he said. "The absolute key is to figure out where your lower risk are."
