The snow is deep enough for fun, which means it is also deep enough to kill.
An avalanche safety seminar set for next week in Prince George will help winter sports from becoming deadly.
The workshop is a presentation of the Canadian Avalanche Centre, the society that gathers as much information as possible from backcountry users and weather agencies to generate regular bulletins warning the public of snow-slide dangers. It is also the agency that, more than any other, promotes practical avalanche knowledge to prevent danger from crashing down on people out enjoying the snow.
"We are fortunate in Prince George that there is a huge array of outdoors groups and there is a good relationship that exists between them all," said Alpine Club of Canada-Prince George regional representative Frank Spears. "We all have to work together to provide that important information so we can all go out there having the best possible information on safety conditions. You can never know it all, but the more we all go out there and then report in, the safer we will all be."
The Canadian Avalanche Centre has partnered with three other agencies to deliver the snow safety message province-wide. Joining them are Environment Canada, Parks Canada and the BC Corners Service.
"Research looking at coroners' statistics shows that an average of 10 persons die each year in B.C. while engaged in winter activities like skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling," said chief coroner Lisa Lapointe. "Another 15 or more persons die each year from hypothermia or exposure to cold. These are numbers we all need to work together to reduce."
On the positive side, "There has been a steady decline in the number of avalanche fatalities over the past four years," said Peter Marshall, public avalanche forecaster with the Canadian Avalanche Centre. "This is especially significant as the use of the winter backcountry has increased significantly during that period."
Existing snow conditions and incoming weather conditions need to be researched carefully before going anywhere into the mountains, said the safety agencies involved. The Canadian Avalanche Centre has a comprehensive website, as does Environment Canada. For a low-cost, one-on-one conversation with a meteorologist about localized weather forecasts call 1-900-565-5555 or 1-888-292-2222.
The Prince George seminar happens Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the UNBC Wintergarden (Room 7-212). It is free and will cover topics like the pros and cons of smartphones in the backcountry, the nuances of choosing terrain to avoid or enter, understanding the character of avalanches and the latest trends in gear and safety techniques.
Tips for staying safe
- Know before you go: research conditions in your area of interest seven days, four days and 24 hours prior to departure.
- Pack with you a transceiver, probe and shovel, and practice their use in advance.
- Ensure everyone in your party has at least basic training in recognizing avalanche
terrain and moving safely in that environment.
- Have a group conversation before departing for the target area about what to do to avoid and what to do in the event of an avalanche. This should include a description of route options, the latest information on conditions, measures to avoid dangerous snow incidents, self-rescue, getting help, equipment check, and information left behind for loved ones to act on if return schedules are missed.
- Always choose appropriate terrain during backcountry actitivities.
