BOW VALLEY – A special avalanche warning has been issued for British Columbia, including Yoho and Kootenay national parks, and the western Alberta backcountry, including Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country.
Issued by Avalanche Canada, in partnership with Parks Canada, Alberta Parks, and the province of British Columbia, this special warning is in effect immediately and remains in place through Monday, March 3.
Officials say a cohesive slab of snow 30 to 100 centimetres thick sits over a variety of prominent weak layers in the upper snowpack that formed during dry periods in January and February, creating a “reactive avalanche problem leading to serious incidents and close calls.”
They say while natural avalanche activity has slowed, human-triggered avalanches remain likely.
“We’ve been tracking these weak layers closely over this past month,” said Zoe Ryan, an Avalanche Canada avalanche forecaster in a press release.
“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.”
Ryan said it is acknowledged backcountry users are eager to enjoy the snow, 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,” Ryan said.
To reduce risk, Avalanche Canada recommends:
- Sticking to lower-angle slopes (less than 30 degrees)
- Choosing terrain that minimizes the consequences of an avalanche
- Travelling one at a time when exposed to avalanche terrain
- Avoiding sun-exposed slopes during warm and/or sunny conditions
Avalanches have claimed the lives of two people in B.C. so far this year.
Backcountry users should always check the avalanche forecast at www.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.
