Avalanche experts say a weekend rescue in Alberta shows it’s already time to be avalanche-aware when venturing into the mountains.
Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society says it responded to an avalanche incident near Coleman, Alta., Sunday that left one hiker fully buried.
“A group of three scramblers triggered a slab avalanche, and the snow was deep enough to bury one of the subjects. They were able to self-extricate the buried member and call for help using an InReach satellite messenger,” the volunteer-run organization says.
“Our ground team aided the group in getting out of the backcountry. This is a strong reminder that, despite the lack of snow and warm temps in the valley, it is very much winter in the alpine.”
RELATED: This avalanche safety course is essential if entering the backcountry
Avalanche Canada Forecaster and Field Technician Colin Garritty says it doesn’t take much snow to create avalanche risk and adds that early winter conditions come with their own unique hazards.
“Avalanche season is here. It doesn’t take much; avalanches can occur really anywhere the snow cover has exceeded the roughness on the ground to create that smooth surface, and wind loading can make this happen really quickly. And they can happen on any slope larger than about 10 by 10 metres over a 25-degree incline,” he says.
“At this time of year the snowpack is at its weakest, essentially, because there’s not much the snow is holding onto and it hasn’t done much to consolidate, so if you’ve got smooth sovereign from snowfall or just smooth ground, as soon as you’ve got 20 or 30 cm of snow, you’ve got an avalanche hazard there. It easily happens overnight or even in a shorter time with wind.”
(The Weather Network)
If heading out into the backcountry to hike, climb, snowmobile, or otherwise enjoy the early season snow, Garritty strongly recommends familiarizing yourself with the above parameters so you can more easily recognize when you’re in avalanche territory.
He also suggests taking Avalanche Canada training courses, travelling in groups, and taking a transceiver, shovel, and probe on all trips into the backcountry.
Experts say avalanche hazards can develop on a mountain slope in a matter of hours with the help of wind and a bit of snow. They say if it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with avalanche terrain and safety practices before heading out at this time of year. (Stock photo)
Garritty adds that the organization won’t begin publishing its daily avalanche forecasts, which can be found online, until November 21.
“It’s a tricky time of year without the full-fledged forecasts, so it might be on-site terrain and condition recognition that help us draw the conclusions that conditions are dangerous.”
In the meantime, anyone can submit field reports to the Mountain Information Network on the Avalanche Canada website.
Avalanche Canada data shows six fatalities in November and one in October since 2004. Three of those deaths occurred in Alberta, all ice climbers.