Avalanche Canada is urging skiers and snowboarders to heed advice before hitting the slopes after issuing an avalanche warning for South Coast and Vancouver Island. The non-governmental body warned people to be “extra cautious” and “avoid avalanche terrain” on Saturday and Sunday. Officials are concerned about “a weak layer in the snowpack that is currently buried about 50 cm deep” in the in the affected areas at the southwestern tip of Canada. They said people planning on visiting the mountainside should carry and know how to use essential rescue gear, such as a transceiver, probe and shovel.
James Floyer, Warning Program Supervisor for Avalanche Canada, said: “We do not expect the snow to stabilise after the storm, which is unusual for the coastal mountains.
“Human-triggered avalanches will be likely over the weekend, especially on steeper terrain.
“The clearing skies and fresh snow will be very inviting but we are urging backcountry users to be extra cautious during this period.”
The advice comes as a 42-year-old woman from New South Wales, Australia, was killed in an avalanche while snowboarding at the popular Whistler Blackcomb ski resort.
The Whistler resort sits about an hour’s drive north of South Coast.
The ski resort confirmed the death, saying a 36-year-man who was snowboarding with the woman was rescued in the incident, as reported by Global News.
Local emergency workers raced to the scene following the incident at about 2.30pm local time on Thursday in the closed area over Lakeside Bowl on Backcomb Mountain.
The woman was rushed to Whistler Health Care Centre but later died of her injuries.
Whistler Blackcomb’s Chief Operating Officer Pete Sonntag offered the resort’s condolences to the family of the deceased woman.
In a statement, he told The Sydney Morning Herald: “Blackcomb, Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends.”
Investigations are said to be underway.
The condition of the 36-year-old man also hit by the class 1 avalanche – the smallest kind possible – is not yet known.
What about other avalanche warnings?
Moderate avalanche warnings are in place for certain areas across the Canadian Rockies area.
You can see a live and updated list of warnings on the Avalanche Canada website.
The information also includes link to the latest weather advice.