Skiers/boarders are often unaware of avalanche danger. Avalanche danger within ski area boundaries is controlled, however avalanche terrain beyond the boundary fence or boundary markers is not controlled. The temptation to have fun too easily overrules caution. Common false beliefs include, “I’ve skied that slope before,” or “There are tracks there, so it must be safe to follow.”
Neither of these statements allow for the hidden changes that occur daily or hourly within the snowpack, or the fact that the first skier/boarder may merely have loosened the snow enough to make it avalanche for someone behind. If you are ever tempted to think “it won’t happen to me,” make sure to also ask “will it slide” and “what holds it up there?”
When skiing/boarding in the side-country or backcountry, you need to carry the gear (transceiver, probe & shovel), know the avalanche danger, be able to recognize avalanche terrain, and be skilled in avalanche rescue.
Avalanche safety and rescue require skill and practice.
Can training make the difference?
In March of 2013, four friends from Whitehorse, Yukon, made the 1,200 km road trip south to Shames Mountain, BC. With fresh snow and clearing skies, they embarked on a week-long adventure exploring the area’s backcountry. Four days in, on a bluebird day in Cherry Bowl, their trip came to an abrupt end.
A massive avalanche hit the group of four skiers. When the slide stopped, three of them were deeply buried. The one person left on the surface had his pack swallowed by the snow, leaving him with no rescue equipment other than his transceiver. The chances of his friends’ survival were almost zero, yet all of them lived.
Explore what is now know as the “Rescue at Cherry Bowl” – the true story of how one trained group used their skills to successfully rescue the three people deeply buried in the avalanche.
The source for avalanche awareness and training information is Avalanche Canada
For current avalanche conditions, visit Avalanche Canada and click on the area you are interested in. Or contact the Ski Patrol at the ski area.
