Preparing For Backcountry Adventure
By 250 News
A backcountry avalanche workshop runs today at UNBC Rm 7-212
Prince George, B.C. - This week's snowfall has many backcountry enthusiasts thinking about upcoming adventures in area mountains, but the Canadian Avalanche Centre is hoping to offer up some tools to make sure those winter recreational experiences are safe ones.
The CAC is putting on workshops in four communities this fall: one in Whitehorse last weekend, in both Prince George and Terrace today, and Fernie next Saturday.
Earlier this month, the Centre, based in Revelstoke, released two new tools for backcountry users:
- the Avaluator 2.0 - an entry level decision-guidance tool that offers a rules-based approach to traveling in avalanche terrain, and
- the CAC Fieldbook - for those ready to learn more advanced avalanche risk management skills
“Avalanche safety is a complex problem,” explains CAC Executive Director Ian Tomm. “The best of our Canadian expertise went into these new tools and we are excited to get them into the hands of users.” Each participant at today's workshops will receive a free Avaluator at the door. In Prince George, the workshop is being held at UNBC in room 7-212. The morning session runs from 8:30a-12:30p and will focus on skiers and snowboarders, while the afternoon session (1:30p-5:30p) is for sledders. In Terrace, it's the same format at the Coast Inn of the West, just later in the day -- session #1 is 12p-4pm, and session #2 is 5p-9p. The cost is $20 per session or $30 for both and registration is at the door. The following chart (courtesy of the CAC) shows the heavy human toll avalanches have taken in B.C. over the past decade. The 2008-2009 season was particularly deadly, with a total of 24 avalanche deaths reported to the B.C. Coroners Service -- 19 involved snowmobiler fatalities, the other five cases involved skiing or snowboarding. Click here for a link to the Coroner's Report..jpg)
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