Special Public Avalanche Warning for Much of BC’s Backcountry
Canadian Avalanche Centre says backcountry travel in avalanche terrain
not recommended without advanced training and experience
February 23, 2012, Revelstoke, BC: The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a special public
avalanche warning for a widespread area of the province’s backcountry. The warning includes the
mountainous areas of the Cariboos, the North and South Columbias, the North and South Rockies, the
Lizard Range, the Purcells, the South Coast Inland and Northwest Inland. The warning is in effect from
Friday February 24 through to Monday February 27.
“The clear, dry spell covering the province in early February had a weakening effect on the surface of the
snow at that time,” explains Karl Klassen, Manager of the CAC’s Public Avalanche Warning Services.
“Now that surface is buried and left us with a very complex upper snowpack, with a number of weak
layers. Conditions are very tricky to manage right now. If you’re going into avalanche terrain, you need
local knowledge, extensive experience and training.”
The CAC is advising all recreational backcountry users to carefully monitor the advice in the avalanche
bulletins. Everyone in a backcountry party needs to be equipped with a shovel, probe and transceiver
and the CAC strongly recommends all backcountry users take an avalanche awareness course. Snowpack
stability changes constantly throughout the winter. Backcountry users need to check the avalanche
bulletin regularly to keep informed of conditions in their area. More detailed information is also
available on the CAC forecaster’s blog. For the bulletins, blog and information on training, check