Prince George, B.C. – The  Canadian Avalanche Centre is predicting there will be fewer, but larger avalanches over the next few weeks.

 

With the hazard rating throughout the province ranging from low in the south coast to high in the Smithers and Terrace region, the Centre is pushing some safety messages .

 

In an open letter to snowmobile clubs throughout B.C. and Alberta, the Centre is reminding snowmobilers to do everything possible to limit the number of people exposed to the consequences of an avalanche.

 

“Riding in avalanche terrain should be a solitary activity, thus you group up in a safe spots and then hit the slopes alone” reads the letter.   The CAC says this practice is not being followed as has been witnessed by the type of recent accidents.

 

The Centre says it expects avalanche activity in the coming weeks to be on slopes of 30 to 35 degrees with wide-open smooth character.

 

In the most recent report for the Northern Rockies region (Prince George to McBride and North to Chetwynd)  the Centre says the danger is considerable “The buried surface hoar is producing large avalanches, both from human triggers and natural triggers such as cornices. They are getting larger and are frequently big enough to destroy your pick-up. They are mostly occurring on north aspects at or just above treeline.  Of note is they are occurring on lower angle slopes than usual.”