Prince George, B.C. – People thinking about making a trip to the backcountry this weekend are advised to pay attention to a special avalanche warning from the  Canadian Avalanche Centre.

The centre says this special public avalanche warning is for recreational backcountry users in all of the CAC's forecast regions, except the North Shore Mountains and the Yukon. The warning is in effect immediately and extends to the end of the day on Wednesday, February 26th.

The centre says an extended dry period in late January and early February left the surface of the snowpack in very bad shape. Karl Klassen, Manager of the Public Avalanche Warning Service, says “now the new snow is sitting on one of the worst weak layers we've seen in a few years. That weakness is currently anywhere between one and two metres deep so when it's triggered, the resulting avalanches are very large."

"There's a lot of pent-up demand for powder after that dry spell but this weak layer is going to be a problem for the foreseeable future," says Klassen. "Staying safe will require patience and discipline as long as this layer is in play."  The weak layer will likely persist after this warning expires and recreationists are urged to stay cautious in avalanche terrain.