AvyDaze
Active member
Hi folks - just wanted to touch base from the Canadian Avalanche Centre
Current avalanche conditions are still really tricky. We have lots of reports of avalanches on low angle terrain and close call surprises. We have therefore decided to issue a special avalanche warning again for the weekend of the 26-28 of February.
Here is some detailed information to help you with your weekend planning:
What’s the problem?
* Incremental loading will further stress slopes, especially since new snow won't accumulate in large enough amount to give a cleanout of avalanche slopes.
* There is pent up powder demand owing to the February drought
* The lack of natural avalanche activity. This may give the false impression that the snowpack is stable. Public warnings and bulletin messaging may be the only indication that recreational users have that conditions are ripe for triggering avalanches
Where is the problem most pronounced?
* Currently, human triggered avalanche activity has been reported from alpine and treeline areas. This is expected to continue to be the case.
* Avalanches may be expected particularly on northerly aspects. We are investigating the distribution of avalanches and will incorporate our findings into public messaging.
* The Columbia Mountains, the North and South Rocky Mountains and parts of the Coast range. Exact area to be determined.
How to manage risk:
* Check the CAC forecasts at Welcome to avalanche.ca for the most current and up to date information to help you plan your trip.
* Conservative routefinding and slope selection. Increase your margins of safety even if you do not observe any avalanche activity.
* Detailed observations of clues related to avalanche activity, knowledge of slope history, snowpack stratigraphy and where avalanches have already occurred may allow you to travel in avalanche terrain, however, without assessing all of these elements you need to stick to low angle terrain.
Travel Recommendations:
* Stick to flat terrain not threatened from above
* One at a time when crossing avalanche paths. Do not go to help someone who is stuck on the slope
* Regroup/stop/observe in heavy timber or in obvious non-avalanche terrain. Give a berth of equal distance to the height of a slope between you and the bottom of an avalanche slope; for example: if a slope is 100m long, leave 100m between you and the bottom of the slope. Boondocking in very low angle terrain with no large open slopes above.
* Highmarking is not recommended.
Current avalanche conditions are still really tricky. We have lots of reports of avalanches on low angle terrain and close call surprises. We have therefore decided to issue a special avalanche warning again for the weekend of the 26-28 of February.
Here is some detailed information to help you with your weekend planning:
What’s the problem?
* Incremental loading will further stress slopes, especially since new snow won't accumulate in large enough amount to give a cleanout of avalanche slopes.
* There is pent up powder demand owing to the February drought
* The lack of natural avalanche activity. This may give the false impression that the snowpack is stable. Public warnings and bulletin messaging may be the only indication that recreational users have that conditions are ripe for triggering avalanches
Where is the problem most pronounced?
* Currently, human triggered avalanche activity has been reported from alpine and treeline areas. This is expected to continue to be the case.
* Avalanches may be expected particularly on northerly aspects. We are investigating the distribution of avalanches and will incorporate our findings into public messaging.
* The Columbia Mountains, the North and South Rocky Mountains and parts of the Coast range. Exact area to be determined.
How to manage risk:
* Check the CAC forecasts at Welcome to avalanche.ca for the most current and up to date information to help you plan your trip.
* Conservative routefinding and slope selection. Increase your margins of safety even if you do not observe any avalanche activity.
* Detailed observations of clues related to avalanche activity, knowledge of slope history, snowpack stratigraphy and where avalanches have already occurred may allow you to travel in avalanche terrain, however, without assessing all of these elements you need to stick to low angle terrain.
Travel Recommendations:
* Stick to flat terrain not threatened from above
* One at a time when crossing avalanche paths. Do not go to help someone who is stuck on the slope
* Regroup/stop/observe in heavy timber or in obvious non-avalanche terrain. Give a berth of equal distance to the height of a slope between you and the bottom of an avalanche slope; for example: if a slope is 100m long, leave 100m between you and the bottom of the slope. Boondocking in very low angle terrain with no large open slopes above.
* Highmarking is not recommended.
