‘Serious potential’ exists for avalanches

OUTDOORS — The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is urging
 backcountry recreationists to avoid aggressive, unsupported avalanche terrain 
throughout the weekend.

Areas of heightened concern are the Valhallas and mountains 
surrounding Slocan Lake, and the Kootenay Boundary, southern Purcells, and South
Rockies regions.

“While we expect to see fewer natural avalanches, tricky conditions persist and 
there is serious potential for human-triggered avalanches,” Senior Avalanche
Forecaster James Floyer said today (Friday).

“The temperature variations we experienced this past week 
have made avalanches harder to trigger in some regions but many colder, north-facing 
slopes are still prone to human triggering, especially in the southern part of the 
province.”

The CAC advises recreational backcountry users to remain very conservative in their 
terrain choices, and stick to more moderate terrain.

“If you trigger this layer, you 
are guaranteed to get a big avalanche,” added Floyer. “Even if you see others riding
 steep terrain with no consequence, it doesn’t make it a good decision to do the 
same.”

Everyone in a backcountry party needs to carry an avalanche transceiver, probe and
 shovel and be well practiced with their rescue skills. The CAC recommends 
that backcountry users take an Avalanche Skills Training course, and check the 
avalanche bulletin regularly to keep informed of conditions in their area.

More
 detailed information is also available on the CAC blogs and forecasts.

— Canadian Avalanche Centre