This area's wintertime backcountry attracts hundreds of snowmobilers, skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers, but how many know enough to avoid the dangers of avalanches?
With more than 25 avalanche fatalities throughout the country last year, a huge wave of snow cascading down a slope at speeds of nearly 130 km is a serious matter of public safety, according to the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC).
The organization has undertaken a series of nationwide avalanche safety events, which brought them to the Sea to Sky Corridor Friday to Sunday (Jan. 10) in collaboration with BC Parks, Whistler Blackcomb.
The local events included an evening presentation at the Eagle Eye Theatre that had at least one participant sitting at attention.
On Friday (Jan. 8), dog handler Jen McGuinness and her Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) certified canine, Neve, told the two dozen in attendance what happens during a dog avalanche rescue.
McGuinness said there are many advantages to using dogs for avalanche rescue - they have an astonishing sense of smell that can detect people that transceiver won't, and they can safely traverse terrain that humans wouldn't dare.
"They can just run through it, so they' re very helpful for searching."
McGuinness and her three-year-old border collie-labrador are one pair of the 32 nationally validated rescue teams with CARDA in Western Canada. To obtain CARDA certification, Neve had to sniff out and dig up an article of clothing buried more than two metres deep in snow.
"Dogs don't really use their eyes that much but their noses are incredibly strong," said McGuiness.
According to McGuinness, a well-trained rescue dog can search up to one hectare of avalanche territory in 30 minutes, which would take 20 people four hours to accomplish.
But calling out the dogs is a last resort the CAC would rather not employ, so high tech equipment and highly trained staff are used to help backcountry users avoid avalanches altogether.
Cam Campbell - a CAC south coast region public avalanche forecaster who collects and analyzes data, develops forecasts and issues bulletins -told the audience about the many factors considered when predicting hazardous conditions.
He said precipitation, temperature and wind are the three largest factors forecasters consider when processing data. But many additional factors, including weather trends, elevation and recent avalanche activity information is also considered.
However no matter how much information professionals like Campbell can produce, it's always up to the outdoor enthusiasts to make smart choices, he said.
"It's up to you to factor in the appropriate margin of safety."
For free, up-to-date information on avalanche bulletins in western Canada, visit www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/regions.
