Image Credit: tranbc.ca
March 24, 2016 - 10:37 AM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As you are planning your Easter long weekend activies in the backcountry keep an eye on avalanche conditions, which are expected to be sensitive this weekend.
Avalanche Canada issued a special public warning for the long weekend, March 25 to 28, for Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks as well as Kananaskis Country, the Purcells range and the North Rockies.
Forecasters say recent large human-triggered and natural avalanches are being caused by a deeply buried weak layer and warn backcountry snowmobilers, skiers and snowboarders to watch for cornices and warming temperatures, which can both lead to large avalanches.
Anyone using the backcountry should be experienced and have avalanche safety training, even then users are cautioned to watch for areas with thin snowpack, to limit exposure to large slopes and to ride in avalanche terrain one at a time.
Proper avalanche equipment includes an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
Avalanche risk in the Kootenay Boundary, North Columbia and South Columbia ranges are expected to be low to considerable this weekend, with forecasters warning of loose, wet avalanches as temperatures rise.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016