Avalanche Control

By Lara Fominoff

Avalanche Canada issues warning for mountains across southern B.C. and Alberta

Dec 23, 2019 | 11:39 AM

REVELSTOKE, B.C. – A special public avalanche warning has been issued for southern Alberta and B.C. going into the holiday season.

The warning is intended for recreational users of backcountry and front-country terrain, and affects all areas near Waterton Lakes National Park, Banff-Yoho and Kananaskis Country.

It also includes the Sea-to-Sky corridor, South Coast Inland, Lizard Range-Flathead, and the south Rockies.

According to Avalanche Canada, there is a weak layer in the snowpack in the above regions. The storm that blew through western Canada over the last several days dropped a significant amount of snow, which is now “precariously” sitting on the weak layer.

Forecast program supervisor Ilya Storm says “many slopes are primed for human-triggered avalanches. Distinguishing between slopes that have already slid, and those that are at the tipping point will be very difficult. This, combined with clearing weather during a holiday week has us very concerned for backcountry users.”

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Parks Canada, Avalanche Canada and Kananaskis Country are warning all backcountry users and anyone recreating in avalanche terrane – including skiers outside of boundaries, to always check their regional forecasts at www.avalanche.ca.

Everyone who goes into the backcountry should have essential rescue gear, including a transceiver, probe, and a shovel, and they should know how to use them.

Those who plan on snowshoeing should also be aware that many popular trails are also exposed to avalanche terrain.