Special avalanche warning in place for B.C.’s Interior

Backcountry recreational users in B.C.’s Interior are being warned, as a special public avalanche warning (SPAW) was issued by Avalanche Canada Wednesday. The warning is in place until the end of the day Monday.

The SPAW warning includes most of the Columbia Mountains region, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National parks, as well as the Northern Rockies.

In a news statement, Avalanche Canada says the recent storm and warm temperatures have destabilized weak snowpack’s, making human-triggered avalanches likely.

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According to Avalanche Canada Forecaster Colin Garritty, B.C.’s Interior has had a persistent problem with snow slabs.

“What we have is storm slabs, slabs of snow that cohere together and haven’t yet had a chance to bond to the surface of the snow. They are easily able to be triggered by a skier or rider in avalanche terrain,” Garritty said.

He explains the snow progressively forms weak layers, and turns into dangerous slabs that could turn into avalanches.

“These are generally larger than what we see with surface avalanches because they’re deeper in the snowpack and involve much more moving snow and a lot more potential to bury, injure, or kill somebody,” Garritty said.

Lower Mainland Risks

Garritty says those in the Lower Mainland area should also take precautions as a storm is heading towards the South Coast.

“We’re expecting up to 30 or more centimeters could fall in the North Shore Mountains over the next…12 hours before tomorrow’s day in the backcountry. That’s going to definitely raise avalanche danger,” Garritty said.

Garritty says a collective estimate of 80 cm of new snow is expected to land in the region starting Friday morning and throughout the weekend, creating a serious avalanche concern.

Avalanche Canada says people heading out into the backcountry and into avalanche territory should be prepared with items like an avalanche transceiver.

“A shovel and a probe, and of course, understanding how to use those in the case that a companion rescue is necessary,” Garritty said.

Garritty says it’s also extremely important to identify avalanche terrain and to understand related terminology.

Avalanche Canada offers a training program year-round that backcountry recreational users can take before heading out into avalanche terrain. It has also provided a map of the SPAW region.

-With files from Robyn Crawford