CALGARY- After several ice climbers experienced a close call with an avalanche over the weekend, mountain rescue workers in Kananaskis Country are imploring climbers to carry appropriate equipment on their expeditions.
On Saturday, six ice climbers were caught in an avalanche in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.
While all the climbers managed to survive, none of them were carrying avalanche rescue equipment.
Three years ago, the Yamnuska Mountain Adventures company began requiring anyone taking ice climbing courses to carry a shovel, a beacon, and a probe while in avalanche terrain.
Rescue specialists say such requirements are a step in the right direction.
“The danger might be moderate or low but you still have a chance of being hit by an avalanche,” says Kananaskis Country Public Safety specialist Jeremy MacKenzie. “So it just makes sense that if you are in avalanche terrain, you carry avalanche equipment.”
The popular ice climb where the climbers were hit on Saturday is inside an avalanche zone.
The hazard on Saturday was classified as considerable.
Comments