Special Public Avalanche Warning for Easter Long Weekend
By Nelson Daily Staff
Avalanche Canada is joining Parks Canada and Kananaskis Country to issue a special public warning for backcountry users for the coming Eastser long weekend.
The warning, from March 25 to March 28, includes Avalanche Canada’s Purcell Mountains and North Rockies regions along with Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, and Jasper National Parks and Kananaskis Country.
Avalanche Canada said in a medial release the main issue is a deeply buried weak layer that has recently produced large human-triggered and natural avalanches.
“While not obvious to the eye, large human triggered avalanches are possible, as are naturally occurring avalanches with triggers such as cornices or daytime warming,” the release said.
Avalanche Canada saiod backcountry users without experience or training in avalanche safety and terrain recognition should avoid avalanche terrain this weekend. For those with experience and avalanche safety training, be extremely cautious in areas with thin snowpack, and limit your exposure by avoiding large slopes.
“Avalanches can be initiated from a distance and can propagate across entire mountain features,” the release said.
“It’s also very important to avoid slopes threatened by cornices. Pay particular attention to where your group stops to group up and ride in avalanche terrain one at a time.”
Avalanche Canada said everyone in a backcountry party needs to have an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. A two-day Avalanche Skills Training 1 course is the minimum training recommended for travelling in avalanche terrain.
For current conditions, check www.avalanche.ca.
For a map of the affected regions, click here.
Story originated at The Nelson Daily
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