Prince George, BC – With the avalanche season nearing its peak in the province, the BC Coroners Service has released a report that serves as a warning to outdoor enthusiats to take special care as they head into the backcountry.

The report studied avalanche-related deaths in the province between January 1st, 1996 and December 31st, 2012.  Over the course of the 16-years, there 127 avalanches causing 181 deaths – 29 of the snowslides caused multiple deaths.  The majority of the incidents, 68-percent, occurred in the Interior region of the province, with another 21.5-percent occurring in the Northern region.

The Coroners Service says in 90-percent of the cases, the victims were male, with the average age being 36.  In 41-percent of the incidents, the decedents had been snowmobiling, 31-percent were skiing, and another 18-percent heli-skiing.

Working with the Canadian Avalanche Centre and Emergency Management BC, the Coroners Service says it has found avalanche awareness has been improving over the past several winters, with a higher proportion of backcountry users carrying essential avalanche safety equipment-transceivers, shovels and probes.  But the agencies say many people still have not taken enough training to use that equipment with maximum effectiveness.

Information about training courses is provided through the Canadian Avalanche Centre and is available at www.avalanche.ca