Low pressure system, heavy snowfall, equals high avalanche danger
Beacon Staff Reporter
Sea-to-Sky Highway avalanche warning high for the next few days. Photo: Pique News Magazine
The Sea-to-Sky region is predicting a high avalanche danger over the next few days.
A heavy snowfall forecast north of Vancouver has pushed the avalanche danger rating up to high for the first time this season.
Alpine areas in the region are forecast to get 20 to 30 cm of snow between Thursday and Saturday as a large low pressure system moves across the coast.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) has issued a high danger rating for alpine areas. At the tree line, the danger rating is considerable, and below it is rated moderate.
“Heavy amounts of new snow will build storm slabs on all aspects, overlying a variety of weak surface layers. Storm slabs, and new wind slabs will be touchy, and widespread natural avalanche activity is likely with heavy loading from snow and wind,” said the bulletin.
Snow avalanches remain a considerable hazard that causes an average of 14 fatalities annually. The terrain, snowpack, climate, and human interaction combine to create a high degree of avalanche risk to those in the area.
It has been estimated that 85 per cent of the fatalities are from human-triggered avalanches in high risk locations.
Prof. Jen Baker and Dr. Tara McGee of the department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences of the University of Alberta say that poor decision making in backcountry locations, as well as not heeding to the warnings posted about hazardous areas, can be blamed for many avalanche fatalities in Canada.
Since many fatalities are caused by self-triggered avalanches more research needs to be done on how to improve human perception of risk and decision-making.
One recommendation would be to make registration for backcountry users mandatory, which includes promoting the completion of a backcountry avalanche education program.
All users are advised to sign in prior to entering the backcountry, indicating how long their trip will be, as well as, which area they will be entering. This will make rescue efforts more efficient and possibly help warn recreationalists of risky conditions and terrain, they said.
Officials hope that by pointing out high risk locations, people will either postpone their trip or increase their vigilance on the slopes.
Educational programs recommended, as well as traveling with commercial groups with a trained professional. Educational programs that include multiple trips to the backcountry will help transfer theoretical knowledge into practical and increase backcountry experience.