B.C.’s avalanche death toll already higher than yearly average

So far this year, nine people have lost their lives in avalanches throughout B.C., including four this month.

The deaths include two Nelson police officers killed after the pair was caught in an avalanche while skiing near Kaslo, B.C., last month.

Mike Conlan, a forecaster with Avalanche Canada, says the uptick in fatalities is due to much of Western Canada’s snowpack having buried weak layers within it.

“In general, the snowpack is thinner and weaker than a typical winter,” he explained. “March can be one of the deadliest winter (months) with many avalanches, and that’s because now we have a fairly deep snowpack with many different layers within it.”

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Conlan says the yearly average for avalanche-related deaths in the province since 2011 is seven, and as of late-February, B.C. has already beat that total.

“Users should really that just acknowledge that this year is different for much of western Canada. We have a weak snowpack, which will likely remain prone to human triggering for the remainder of the season,” he said.

Much of B.C’s mountain backcountry has been under avalanche warning as of late, with Avalanche Canada stressing the importance of being cautious and prepared through the rest of winter.

If you are a backcountry user, Conlan recommends being diligent with terrain travel to manage the complexity of the snowpack.