Avalanche Canada has issued a special warning for recreational backcountry users across most regions in BC and Alberta. The warning remains in place until Monday, March 3.
A cohesive slab of snow 30 to 100 centimetres thick sits over various prominent weak layers in the upper snowpack that formed during dry periods in January and February. This has created a reactive avalanche problem, leading to serious incidents and close calls. While natural avalanche activity has slowed, human-triggered avalanches remain likely.
“We’ve been tracking these weak layers closely over this past month,” says Avalanche Canada Avalanche Forecaster Zoe Ryan. “Now that the snow on top of them has consolidated, it’s a recipe for dangerous avalanches. These highly problematic layers remain primed for human triggering.”
“We know backcountry users are eager to enjoy the snow,” adds Ryan, “but this is a tricky avalanche problem. The snowpack is going to take time to strengthen. Good travel habits and selecting conservative terrain will be critical because getting caught in one of these avalanches could be deadly.”
To reduce risk, Avalanche Canada recommends:
- Sticking to lower-angle slopes (less than 30 degrees)
- Choosing terrain that minimizes the consequences of an avalanche
- Traveling one at a time when exposed to avalanche terrain
- Avoiding sun-exposed slopes during warm and/or sunny conditions
Backcountry users are asked to check avalanche forecast at https://avalanche.ca. Everyone in a backcountry group must carry essential rescue gear — an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel — and have the training to know how to use it
