In collaboration with Parks Canada and the Province of BC, Avalanche Canada has issued a special warning for recreational backcountry users in most of BC’s and Alberta’s forecast regions. ‘Very dangerous’ avalanche conditions persist in Sea to Sky region and other areas of the BC south coast.
The warning is effective immediately and will apply through the end of Monday, March 4. This announcement comes after recent storms deposited significant snow across Western Canada, which now sits on prominent weak layers established in early February.
While the natural avalanche activity has slowed down with the abatement of the storm, human-triggered avalanches remain likely. Avalanche Canada Forecaster Tyson Rettie explained that they have closely tracked these weak layers over the past month. While their structure may differ across regions, the result is the same – highly problematic layers that remain reactive to human triggering.
According to Rettie, this has been the season’s most significant storm, and backcountry users are eager to enjoy the snow. However, it is vital not to underestimate the instability of these weak layers as any avalanche triggered on them could be deadly. Making cautious terrain choices will be essential for all backcountry users over the next few days. An excellent way to do this is by sticking to lower-angle slopes and choosing smaller objectives that minimize the consequences of an avalanche.
B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma, has also urged everyone to stay safe by exercising caution and making informed decisions when planning a trip in the backcountry. Backcountry users are advised to check the avalanche forecast at the provided URL and ensure that everyone in their group has the essential rescue gear – transceiver, probe, and shovel – and the training to use it.
