12 people have died in avalanche accidents in B.C. so far this year, which is higher than normal. More people are seeking training on what to do if they’re caught in an avalanche.
While the B.C. Interior is having one of the deadliest avalanche seasons in a decade, the Island’s winter season has been pretty typical, an avalanche forecaster says.
The problematic layer in the Interior’s snowpack that has led to 12 deaths this year existed on the Island back in December, but really warm storms and the weight of wet, heavy snowfalls have “basically crushed that layer into oblivion,” Garritty said. The Island more commonly has “direct action avalanche problems,” meaning big, powerful storms that dump tons of snow with strong winds that lead to deep slabs forming and lots of avalanches occurring during these times, Garritty said.
On the north Island, Avalanche Canada has been observing a crust buried about 80 centimetres deep in the snowpack for the last week or so. Field tests were showing the snowpack fracturing at the crust, Garritty said, indicating a good potential for avalanches to happen at the crust. Spring can bring more people into the backcountry because of warmer weather and longer days, but more sun can drive avalanche activity, Garritty said. March is statistically the deadliest month for avalanche accidents in Canada. However, there’s never been a recorded death on the Island from an avalanche.
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