Avalanche Safety Education a Must for Back Country Enthusiasts
Prince George, B.C.- Words of warning from the BC Coroners Service and Avalanche Canada today as BC heads into a long weekend, which means folks may beheading into the back country.
In the wake of last weekend’s tragic avalanche that claimed five lives in the Renshaw area near McBride, both the Coroner’s Service and Avalanche Canada are calling on backcountry users to be prepared.
The five who died were among the more than 17 people who were in the area at the time of the avalanche. Most had proper rescue equipment with them and their efforts to rescue themselves and others are being credited with preventing further deaths.
But the Executive Director of Avalanche Canada, Gilles Valade, says knowing how to prevent triggering an avalanche is just as, if not more, important than knowing what to do when a slide occurs. “Avalanche safety education is essential for all winter backcountry recreationists. Basic skills, such as recognizing avalanche terrain and not exposing multiple people to overhead hazard, make a big difference in reducing the consequences of an event.”
Avalanche skills training courses teach proper trip planning, terrain selection and safe travel techniques, which can be effective in preventing accidents.
Equipment alone is not enough, notes Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe. Three of the five fatalities from the Renshaw avalanche had deployed avalanche airbags designed to “float” someone along the surface of a moving avalanche. But the airbags were ineffective in this case because the victims were in a gully at the bottom of a slope – an area where the debris flow of the avalanche is too constricted.
The vast majority of fatal avalanches are triggered by the victim or someone in the victim’s party.
Comments
It’s very easy to avoid dangerous avalanche areas and still go into the mountains. Just gotta use common sense. Have fun out there and be safe.
I wonder if there are any stories of anyone being actually saved by the airbags in this particular avalanche.
Close down the dangerous areas when the avalanche risk is high, it works on ski hills.
Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2016 @ 7:51 AM by Jim13136 with a score of 0
Close down the dangerous areas when the avalanche risk is high, it works on ski hills.
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That would be difficult to police.
‘It’s very easy to avoid dangerous avalanche areas and still go into the mountains’ – Another clueless 250news user. Most die in areas that are no higher than the Hart Ski hill. You only need a hill 40ft high to get trapped in 4 ft of snow.
There will be deaths no matter what you do with snowmobiling, it is fun and great exercise, probably saves more lives than it takes. Mount Everest, hundreds have died on that mountain and i bet 100’s are lining up to trying to climb it right now. If you just sit on the couch your going to cost our health care a fortune, we should pass a law making it mandatory to get out of the house.
I wonder, do you need a card to prove that you’ve taken the safety courses like they do for hunting or power boats? Still it would be safer to close down the back country when there is a dangerous situation out there.
Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2016 @ 8:18 AM by Leroyjenkins with a score of -3
‘It’s very easy to avoid dangerous avalanche areas and still go into the mountains’ – Another clueless 250news user. Most die in areas that are no higher than the Hart Ski hill. You only need a hill 40ft high to get trapped in 4 ft of snow.
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Speaking of clueless users, I see you’re still around. I’ve been riding in the mountains for 25 years pal, and I’m pretty sure you’re an armchair wanna be. Please refrain from posting comments on subjects you truly know nothing about. Unless of course you wish to learn something, then just ask questions.
Close down the back country? Does this look like a communist country?
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