WATCH: You wouldn’t know it looking at the North Shore mountains that have been stripped of snow, but a special avalanche warning has been issued for backcountry skiers in the Sea-to-Sky area and Northern B.C. Jeremy Hunka reports.
A winter of unusual weather and an unpredictable snowpack has prompted Avalanche Canada to issue a special public warning for recreational backcountry users.
The warning for the Sea-to-Sky region extends to the areas adjacent to but outside the ski area of Whistler-Blackcomb, South Coast Inland west of Highway 1, South Columbia region north of Highways 6 and 31A, North Columbia, Cariboos and North Rockies regions.
The warning is in effect from March 24 to March 29.
“Avalanches are being triggered both in the newer, surface snow and in deeper layers that formed earlier in the winter,” said Avalanche Canada Public Warning service manager Karl Klassen in a statement.
“This challenging scenario is resulting in numerous close calls and led to two fatalities this past weekend.”
On March 21 two Alberta men were killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling in the lower Dore River drainage area near the village of McBride. And earlier in the month a 45-year-old highly-experienced backcountry skier died in an avalanche near Golden, B.C.
The conditions are expected to last and Avalanche Canada is recommending that backcountry users stay on simple, low-angle terrain; avoid large, steep slopes and minimize their exposure to overhead hazards. They also suggest to avoid travelling where other users are on slopes above and re-group in safe zones away from avalanche run-outs.
In addition to being aware of terrain and having avalanche training, backcountry users should be equipped with essential equipment like a transceiver, probe and shovel.
A map of the areas covered by this avalanche warning:
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