Special Public Avalanche Warning in place in BC and Western Alberta Backcountry

Avalanche Canada has issued a Special Public Avalanche Warning from Thursday, February 27, until the end of the day on Monday, March 3.

Zoe Ryan, an Avalanche Forecaster, says the Special Warning is in effect due to “very challenging and quite dangerous conditions” across BC and Western Alberta.

Ryan says a persistent slab buried 30 to 100 centimetres deep has been created under weak layers of snowpack, and the warming weather has made the terrain unpredictable.

“It is challenging to manage and difficult to know when and where you may trigger it[an avalanche] from,” says Ryan. “It can be remotely triggered from quite a distance away, and we’re talking about large avalanches that certainly have the potential to injure or bury a person.”

Avalanche Canada says it is essential that anyone going into the backcountry choose “conservative terrain” and use good travel habits.

• Choose slopes less than 30 degrees in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain.
• Maintain disciplined decision making and remember that danger may not be obvious
• Avoid sun—exposed slopes during warm or sunny conditions
• Move one at a time through avalanche terrain, and regroup in safe spots without overhead hazards.

Backcountry riders and hikers are advised to check the avalanche forecast daily and to travel with the essential rescue gear — transceiver, probe, and a shovel.

A list of the full essential gear, how to get trained to use it, more tips on avalanche safety, and a regional map with updated forecast conditions can be found at AvalancheCanada.ca.