CALGARY – A special avalanche warning has been issued by Parks Canada and Alberta Parks for many mountain parks in the Rocky Mountains this weekend.
The public is being warned that Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper national parks, as well as Kananaskis Country are areas at risk of avalanche–with conditions prime for human triggering–from Friday until Sunday.
“Avalanche professionals throughout these areas of the Rockies have seen numerous full depth avalanches sliding to ground on this layer in the last week and running to the end of historical runouts,” said Parks Canada’s Mark Merchant in a release. “There have been numerous, unusually large, natural and explosive triggered avalanches occurring, which have led avalanche forecasters to have a low confidence in this year’s snowpack.”
READ MORE: Canada’s avalanche army wages war on dangerous snow
Parks Canada said although sunny skies will attract people to the mountains over the weekend, people with little or no avalanche training should avoid avalanche terrain or go out with professionals. All avalanche terrain should be avoided when temperatures are warm and the sun is out.
“Every person in a backcountry party needs an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel and everyone should have some training in recognizing avalanche terrain and safe backcountry travel techniques,” said Merchant.
Visit avalanche.ca for the latest information.
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