Avalanche risk rated high on the North Shore and South Coast
Posted November 26, 2010 3:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Avalanche danger is rated high on the Sea-to-Sky and the North Shore mountains, and an avalanche survivor is warning people to be careful if they’re heading into the mountains this weekend.
It’s been more than ten years since Francois Desrosiers and four of his friends were buried in an avalanche over a kilometer wide in Rogers Pass. While Desrosiers survived, one of his best friends, Shane Block, was killed. “[I] broke every bone in my body, and tore every ligament, and tore apart my face.”
He says they never saw it coming. “The avalanche was just enormous. It caught us by surprise, and the person who paid the biggest price was Shane.”
And now, he has this message for anyone heading into the back country this weekend. “Education and equipment are crucial. There are steps that need to be taken. It’s kind of like going swimming with sharks. You don’t just jump in the waters and swim around, you have to take the necessary precautions.”
If you do decide to venture out anyway, you can check out pre-trip planning and gear tips at avalanche.ca.
