Avalanche risks are high across the Cariboo.
Avalanche Forecaster Tyson Rettie says that because of warmer, wet, and stormy weather, many regions across the province have high avalanche danger warnings.
“Right now we’re expecting a natural avalanche cycle to be occurring in much of the BC interior,” Rettie says. “We may see breaks in the weather here and there over the Thursday period, but then, as we get into the weekend, we’ll see another significant pulse come through.”
Rettie said that below the treeline and in lower terrain, the high temperatures and rain can cause bonds within the snow to weaken. While at higher elevations where snow is still falling, and there are below-freezing temperatures, deep slabs are building from precipitation.
“Even if you’re traveling at an elevation where it’s not snowing, you could still be impacted by slab avalanches initiating from higher elevations traveling down,” says Rettie. “At lower elevations where we’re seeing warmer temperatures and rain, we’re expecting large loose avalanches to occur.”
He says the loose avalanches that could occur could be heavy and easily push people around.
“Right now, they could be large enough to bury you as well.”
Avalanche Canada recommends that anyone going into the backcountry take an avalanche safety course to be trained to spot avalanche terrain and areas, and to check the avalanche forecast daily.
Backcountry hikers are also recommended to take all essential gear: a transceiver, a probe, and a shovel, as well as to not travel alone and take companion rescue equipment.
Avalanche safety training courses and the daily Avalanche forecast can be found on Avalanche Canada’s website.
Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
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