Avalanche risk prompts caution to skiers
Posted Jan 11, 2013 2:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
While City Council is getting a handle on Calgary’s recent snowfall, the massive amounts of white stuff in the back country means a considerable risk of avalanches in many parts of B.C. and Alberta.
Up to 80 centimetres of snow has fallen in the Rockies.
For those planning on hitting the slopes this weekend, Tanya Otif from Sunshine Village said their snow safety team does things daily to control avalanche risk.
“It could include anything like ski cutting, observing the snow crystals, and executing active control,” she said.
Otif added they also work closely with Parks Canada.
Matt Mosteller from the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies said while they also monitor the risk daily, there are things skiers can do to make sure they keep safe.
“The most important thing is to stay inside the ski resort boundaries, and enjoy your skiing and riding there,” he said.
Mosteller advises never skiing out in back country in any condition without proper gear and training.
Ilya Storm from the Canadian Avalanche Centre said it’s especially outside of resorts that pose the most risk.
“You know the back country is uncontrolled, its up to you to make good decisions out there, we’re at considerable avalanche danger,” Storm said.
Storm pushes using caution, and staying off steep terrain.
“It’s a weekend to be consistently conservative.”
