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Special Avalanche Warning - February 26-Mar1
ZacsTracs: Special Avalanche Warning - February 26-Mar1
The Canadian Avalanche Centre has issued a
Special Avalanche Warning for the 2nd weekend in a row.
The Warning has expanded to include more regions of British Columbia.
____________________________________________________
Find answers to these questions – CLICK HERE to read the SPAW
What’s the problem?
Where is the problem most pronounced?
How to manage risk?
Travel Recommendations?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Please copy THIS LINK and send to all your sledding contacts. Weekends like this are the perfect recipe for an avalanche accident.
What are the ingredients of this Special Avalanche Warning?
Below are some of the reasons why this SPAW has been issued.
Close call avalanches have been reported.
Several weaknesses are present in the upper snowpack right now. Snowmobilers and skiers have been triggering a wide variety of alpine and treeline slopes.
Mainly on North Aspects in the Treeline and in the Alpine.
Continued small storms are adding load to these weak upper layers.
Expected snowfalls are NOT forecast to be large enough to lead to a cycle of natural avalanches. Too bad, as a big dump of snow could possibly let nature clean off many of these unstable slopes for us.
Common safe areas are suspect, catching people by surprise.
EVEN LOW ANGLE slopes are releasing right now. REMOTE TRIGGERING has also been reported.
This means that slopes may be releasing at a distance from the trigger point. You don’t have to be ON THE BIG SLOPE…JUST CONNECTED TO THE SLOPE.
*See the pictures and stories submitted from Zac’s students below
This little slide looks harmless…imagine it on a larger slope…or on a slope with a trap where the snow can accumulate leading to a deep burial.
Good weather and new snow will tempt people out to the slopes.
Weekends bring more riders. With more traffic people push the terrain even harder in search of fresh tracks.
There is a lack of natural avalanche activity.
Without the obvious clue of naturally triggered avalanches people often get a false impression that the snowpack is stable.
Photo credit to Becky Corfe, Grande Prairie, AB
Why is this different from a forecast of ‘High’ or ‘Extreme’ avalanche conditions?
Statistically, recreational fatalities are more likely to occur during a period rated as ‘Considerable’. Why?
The definition of ‘High or Extreme’ avalanche hazard means “Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely or certain”
Often in a period rated as High or Extreme we are in the middle of a storm and there are fewer people out. Also, ratings of High or Extreme do not tend to last long.
The natural avalanche activity alerts people to the unstable snowpack
People notice the action and ease off to simpler terrain.
The avalanche rating of ‘Considerable’ means “natural avalanches are possible, human triggered avalanches are probable”
Basically this means that the snowpack isn’t unstable enough for the balance to tip with nature’s influence alone…but add the additional load of a sledder and the snowpack may struggle to hold together.
A Special Avalanche Warning DOES NOT mean that you cannot go riding in the backcountry. It means:
ALWAYS READ THE AVALANCHE BULLETINS IF AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA. Avoid the likely weak areas as identified in the Bulletin.
Sled : Community : Canadian Avalanche Centre : avalanche.ca HERE for Avalanche Bulletins for Canada
Avalanche.org - Home Page HERE for Avalanche Bulletins for the United States.
Take an avalanche course to learn how to read an Avalanche Bulletin and to identify Avalanche Terrain and hazardous terrain traps. Successful use of terrain allows you to minimize your exposure to avalanche risk no matter the conditions. Avalanche courses are available in many areas.
Learn to use the AVALUATOR to help you to choose terrain more suited for the posted avalanche conditions.
CLICK HERE for more info.
Consciously adjust your choices of terrain. In many communities there is non-avalanche terrain where riders can enjoy the blue skies and fresh snow conditions away from the reach of the big slopes.
The Canadian Avalanche Center and
Zac's Tracs
Avalanche Classes
Interested in hosting an avalanche training event in your community?
View some program options by clicking here.
March 5-6, & 7
Golden, BC
2 Evening classes
Sunday field session
Special prices $$ for the LAST CLASS of the season!
It's always more educational to take an avalanche class when the snow is reactive.
More to see.
More to learn.
Frost crystals buried within the snowpack
Check us out and sign up as a fan while you are there.
Candles to Remember
On February 26 "Candles to Remember" will launch. This is a fundraiser in memory of snowmobilers that have lost their lives to avalanches.
The money raised through this 4 week fundraiser will be presented to the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) to invest in snowmobile specific programs and resources.
See how you can take part CLICK HERE.
This letter is intended for individuals or companies that are connected to the snowmobile community. If you have received this message in error, or wish to be removed from our newsletter list, please accept our apologies and click on the link below to UNSUBSCRIBE from future mailings.
CLICK HERE to view the latest
Special Avalanche Warning (SPAW)
Please pass this link on to your snowmobile contact lists. Many areas in BC are suspect.
Even lower angle slopes have been releasing,
catching some riders by surprise.
Help us get the message out.
Feb 18 - This crack was initiated by a snowmobile and runs across a low angle slope. The crack shows that there was a 'tensile failure'. The fact that the slope did not release signals that the weak layer is a bit 'resistant'.
The forces keeping the snow ON the slope are just enough to keep the snow from sliding DOWN the slope
CAUTION...Slopes that are cracking or whumphing are close to their tipping point. An additional track, additional sled, a slightly different route across the slope may be all it takes to release them.
Take care on slopes with similar features.
They may have the same unstable snowpack.
Feb 19 - a sled triggered avalanche. During times of widespread instability choose SIMPLE Terrain as highlighted in the AVALUATOR materials.
If you don't know what this means you need to
update your avalanche training.
Classes are winding up for the season. Don't miss out!
Right now be sure that you are choosing SURVIVABLE terrain. It is hard to know what is ready to release.
Want answers to these questions?
What's the problem this weekend?
Where is the problem most pronounced?
How do I manage the risk?
Travel Recommendations?
CLICK HERE to read the SPAW issued by the CAC
If you cannot view the pictures in this newsletter, please scroll up and click on the link "Webpage Version".
ZacsTracs: Special Avalanche Warning - February 26-Mar1
The Canadian Avalanche Centre has issued a
Special Avalanche Warning for the 2nd weekend in a row.
The Warning has expanded to include more regions of British Columbia.
____________________________________________________
Find answers to these questions – CLICK HERE to read the SPAW
What’s the problem?
Where is the problem most pronounced?
How to manage risk?
Travel Recommendations?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Please copy THIS LINK and send to all your sledding contacts. Weekends like this are the perfect recipe for an avalanche accident.
What are the ingredients of this Special Avalanche Warning?
Below are some of the reasons why this SPAW has been issued.
Close call avalanches have been reported.
Several weaknesses are present in the upper snowpack right now. Snowmobilers and skiers have been triggering a wide variety of alpine and treeline slopes.
Mainly on North Aspects in the Treeline and in the Alpine.
Continued small storms are adding load to these weak upper layers.
Expected snowfalls are NOT forecast to be large enough to lead to a cycle of natural avalanches. Too bad, as a big dump of snow could possibly let nature clean off many of these unstable slopes for us.
Common safe areas are suspect, catching people by surprise.
EVEN LOW ANGLE slopes are releasing right now. REMOTE TRIGGERING has also been reported.
This means that slopes may be releasing at a distance from the trigger point. You don’t have to be ON THE BIG SLOPE…JUST CONNECTED TO THE SLOPE.
*See the pictures and stories submitted from Zac’s students below
This little slide looks harmless…imagine it on a larger slope…or on a slope with a trap where the snow can accumulate leading to a deep burial.
Good weather and new snow will tempt people out to the slopes.
Weekends bring more riders. With more traffic people push the terrain even harder in search of fresh tracks.
There is a lack of natural avalanche activity.
Without the obvious clue of naturally triggered avalanches people often get a false impression that the snowpack is stable.
Photo credit to Becky Corfe, Grande Prairie, AB
Why is this different from a forecast of ‘High’ or ‘Extreme’ avalanche conditions?
Statistically, recreational fatalities are more likely to occur during a period rated as ‘Considerable’. Why?
The definition of ‘High or Extreme’ avalanche hazard means “Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely or certain”
Often in a period rated as High or Extreme we are in the middle of a storm and there are fewer people out. Also, ratings of High or Extreme do not tend to last long.
The natural avalanche activity alerts people to the unstable snowpack
People notice the action and ease off to simpler terrain.
The avalanche rating of ‘Considerable’ means “natural avalanches are possible, human triggered avalanches are probable”
Basically this means that the snowpack isn’t unstable enough for the balance to tip with nature’s influence alone…but add the additional load of a sledder and the snowpack may struggle to hold together.
A Special Avalanche Warning DOES NOT mean that you cannot go riding in the backcountry. It means:
ALWAYS READ THE AVALANCHE BULLETINS IF AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA. Avoid the likely weak areas as identified in the Bulletin.
Sled : Community : Canadian Avalanche Centre : avalanche.ca HERE for Avalanche Bulletins for Canada
Avalanche.org - Home Page HERE for Avalanche Bulletins for the United States.
Take an avalanche course to learn how to read an Avalanche Bulletin and to identify Avalanche Terrain and hazardous terrain traps. Successful use of terrain allows you to minimize your exposure to avalanche risk no matter the conditions. Avalanche courses are available in many areas.
Learn to use the AVALUATOR to help you to choose terrain more suited for the posted avalanche conditions.
CLICK HERE for more info.
Consciously adjust your choices of terrain. In many communities there is non-avalanche terrain where riders can enjoy the blue skies and fresh snow conditions away from the reach of the big slopes.
The Canadian Avalanche Center and
Zac's Tracs
Avalanche Classes
Interested in hosting an avalanche training event in your community?
View some program options by clicking here.
March 5-6, & 7
Golden, BC
2 Evening classes
Sunday field session
Special prices $$ for the LAST CLASS of the season!
It's always more educational to take an avalanche class when the snow is reactive.
More to see.
More to learn.
Frost crystals buried within the snowpack
Check us out and sign up as a fan while you are there.
Candles to Remember
On February 26 "Candles to Remember" will launch. This is a fundraiser in memory of snowmobilers that have lost their lives to avalanches.
The money raised through this 4 week fundraiser will be presented to the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) to invest in snowmobile specific programs and resources.
See how you can take part CLICK HERE.
This letter is intended for individuals or companies that are connected to the snowmobile community. If you have received this message in error, or wish to be removed from our newsletter list, please accept our apologies and click on the link below to UNSUBSCRIBE from future mailings.
CLICK HERE to view the latest
Special Avalanche Warning (SPAW)
Please pass this link on to your snowmobile contact lists. Many areas in BC are suspect.
Even lower angle slopes have been releasing,
catching some riders by surprise.
Help us get the message out.
Feb 18 - This crack was initiated by a snowmobile and runs across a low angle slope. The crack shows that there was a 'tensile failure'. The fact that the slope did not release signals that the weak layer is a bit 'resistant'.
The forces keeping the snow ON the slope are just enough to keep the snow from sliding DOWN the slope
CAUTION...Slopes that are cracking or whumphing are close to their tipping point. An additional track, additional sled, a slightly different route across the slope may be all it takes to release them.
Take care on slopes with similar features.
They may have the same unstable snowpack.
Feb 19 - a sled triggered avalanche. During times of widespread instability choose SIMPLE Terrain as highlighted in the AVALUATOR materials.
If you don't know what this means you need to
update your avalanche training.
Classes are winding up for the season. Don't miss out!
Right now be sure that you are choosing SURVIVABLE terrain. It is hard to know what is ready to release.
Want answers to these questions?
What's the problem this weekend?
Where is the problem most pronounced?
How do I manage the risk?
Travel Recommendations?
CLICK HERE to read the SPAW issued by the CAC
If you cannot view the pictures in this newsletter, please scroll up and click on the link "Webpage Version".
