Obvious Clues
Is Fernie in trouble for next weekend? How is the risk there?
Regards, Sam D.
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In the planning stages of any backcountry trip always review the most recent Avalanche Forecast available on the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s website.
http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/regions
Simply click on the area of the map that you wish to go to. Carefully read each line of the report. Note the weather forecast included in the report and pay attention to the actual weather while riding. Consider how any variations in the actual vs. forecasted weather may affect the general bulletin ratings for the slopes in your riding area.
The bulletins really are your best source for general guidance before you go.
Attend an AST1 class to really help you get the most out of the Bulletin reports. Every season the recipe in the snowpack is different. Refresher classes are recommended to keep your observation and assessment skills sharp!
CLICK HERE to see this season’s avalanche classes.
While online, follow this link to use the Interactive Avaluator Trip Planner.
Once you are in the field the 7 Obvious Clues, noted in the AVALUATOR card below, should be continuously monitored. Conditions can change with elevation, aspect (orientation to sun and wind) and time of day.
By keeping this list top of mind you will be more likely to avoid a dangerous situation. The more of the Obvious Clues that you check off the list, the more your situation resembles a past fatality.
Of course a score in the red does not mean that an accident is certain, but it usually indicates that the odds are higher of triggering an avalanche in these conditions.
The more riders in your group that are gathering these clues, the more chance you have of truly catching the majority of Nature’s warning signs. It is just like building a puzzle….the more pieces that you can gather, the better chance you have of truly interpreting the picture.
Send us your photos of Obvious Clues gathered during your sled trips. Over the next couple of weeks we hope to add more details to this article and including examples of each of these Obvious Clues.
Canadian Avalanche Centre Snowmobile Outreach Program
Bring your riding group! Bring your family!
These 3 hr workshops will help you identify:
- your current exposure to avalanche risk
- your ability to avoid a serious avalanche accident
- 4 key web pages to access before each riding day
- 10 tips to keep your group safe while on the mountain
- terrain suited for your skill level
- the good, the bad & the ugly of avalanche rescue gear
- whether your beacon is suited to your search style
- where to go from here? on-going training opportunities
These evening presentations are sponsored by the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) and will highlight tools, courses, and resources available through the CAC. This includes:
- Public Avalanche Bulletins
- On-line Learning Course
- Trip Talk
- Weather Products
- Recreational and Professional Training program
- the new AVALUATOR.
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If your group or business would like to request or host a presentation in your community, please contact Lori or Amber and we will certainly be pleased to work together.
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The 3 hr CAC Avy Awareness & Beacon Orientations are only $65/family or $50/pp to attend and include a free AVALUATOR, a one year Friends Membership to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, hands-on introductory beacon activities and handouts.
For UPCOMING COURSES, please CLICK HERE to be redirected to our MAIN SCHEDULE
To Register
CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE REGISTRATION AREA.Confirmed Registrations
To review the class lists for all Zacs Tracs courses please click here=====================================
Donations to the CAC will be gratefully accepted and memberships to the CAC for individuals (Friend of the CAC – $20) and organizations (Supporter of the CAC – $200) will also be offered.
Click here to go directly to the CAC website; become a ‘Friend’ or ‘Supporter’
The CAC’s intention is to grow a network of persons interested in the services of the avalanche industry and to build a simple email system to distribute topical and timely information such as Special Bulletin Warnings and new research.
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For more info, contact Lori
Email: snowmobile@avalanche.ca
Phone: 403-850-3042
Backcountry Avalanche Workshops (BAW)
Backcountry Avalanche Workshop (BAW) Events
Presented by Columbia BreweryClick here to go to the CAC website for more details.
Fernie, BC – The Art Station, downtown Fernie
November 21, 2009
Prince George, BC – Civic Centre
November 28, 2009
Grande Prairie, AB – Quality Inn and Conference Centre
November 29, 2009
No pre-registration necessary
All sessions run from 9am – 5pm
$20/pp Awesome deal!
Avalanche Awareness Days
The more participants and volunteers the more media coverage that we can expect to attract. Media coverage means an increase in awareness by the general public.
Avalanche Awareness Poker Rally at Boulder Mountain near Revelstoke, BC
This event will be a major media event for the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
Bring the clan, enjoy the event, win some stuff, buy some stuff, eat too much and then dance…or drink it off.
- poker rally – win $$ and prizes
- talks by avalanche survivors
- airbag demonstrations
- CARDA dog demonstrations (tentative) (Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Assoc.)
- new movies including Boost 3 and the Fine Line
- flicks and pics by Kertis Broza (you have seen some of his work in the latest Alticity Films)
- silent auction
- live band and dancing
We are looking for volunteers to:
- assist at some of the stations
- transport TV media up to the Boulder cabin
- ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ contestants for the evening event (ok…so this is a joke, but this will be a great weekend to bring your better half and enjoy some winter fun!)
- gather or donate items to the silent auction
Check out the CAC website for more info.
Public Avalanche Bulletins
CLICK ON THE MAP ABOVE to view the CAC Public Avalanche Bulletin (PAB) webpage. The PAB is like a road report for the mountains.
EVERYONE should access this information before going riding!
Please open a current bulletin for any CAC Forecast area by clicking on a region on the map or by selecting from the list on the left side of the page.
Otherwise you may refer to this screen shot of the North Columbia Avalanche Forecast from Dec 18/09 which follows.
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Note the NEW AND ENHANCED features. These excellent features were added during the winter of 2008 and the Primary Concern icons and new layout were added in fall of 2009.
- Sub-regions in the Hazard Rating Chart – some of the forecast regions have new sub-regions to improve the quality of data by reducing the size of the forecast regions. Weather patterns have been the primary influence in these new dividing lines. For the North Columbia PAB region the new areas are the Cariboos (west side of Hwy 5) vs. Monashees and Selkirks (east side of Hwy 5).
- Color Map of the new Sub-Regions – in the top right of the forecast report. (THIS WILL BE UPLOADED TO THE NEW WEBSITE SOON)
- Confidence – the level of confidence is primarily related to the forecaster’s confidence in the weather forecast. (If the actual weather varies much from the forecasted weather, then the PAB may have mis-judged the avalanche hazard.) Confidence may also be low if there are little information being submitted to the forecasters (early or late season…)
- Primary Concerns Icons – a visual summary of the problem layers. Avalanche type, sides of the mountains affected, elevation band of concern and time of day for the primary concern.
- Avalanche Activity tells you what IS happening
- Snowpack Data tells you what COULD happen
- Weather Data tells you what SHOULD happen
- Glossary Links – click on highlighted technical terms for detailed descriptions and images. Very useful as a FREE training tool.
- Next Scheduled Update – this date ensures that no one accidentally uses stale bulletin information. Conditions can change quickly SO IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ACCESS THE DATA FOR THE CORRECT REGION ON THE CORRECT DATE.
- Recently Reported Avalanche Incidents – these reports are specific to the Bulletin area selected.
Photos are often included in many of the reports. This one shows the full path of the Size 3 slab avalanche (large enough to bury or destroy a truck or small building.)
FREE email service
The CAC offers a FREE EMAIL service for the PAB.
To subscribe please follow this link
Choose the bulletin regions that you would like to receive info for. (i.e. North Columbia and the North Rockies)
Simple emails are sent to ensure that you always have easy access to the most current information, including Special Warnings.
Take advantage of this feature and keep in touch with the ever-changing conditions. Not only will this FREE service prepare you for your backcountry trips, but you will also grow your avalanche experience and vocabulary by noting the significant events and trends in the weather and avalanche cycles. Learn to identify the significant weather patterns and start to develop your own snow interpretation ability. As you read about the weather today, try to guess how it will affect the snow stability tomorrow. Pick up travel hints and terrain identification skills by following the forecasters travel advisories
We highly recommend that you take advantage of this service.
What is the AVALUATOR??
The Avaluator is a decision making tool. It is a card and guidebook that leads you through gathering information and observations before and during your trip to the mountains. By being more aware of the predicted and actual stability and weather conditions, and looking at this in conjunction with the type of terrain that you are choosing, the Avaluator will help you to acknowledge a recommended level of caution for your planned venture.
The Avaluator is a tool for semi-trained backcountry recreationalists. The proper use of this tool is well explained in the accompanying booklet, however it is recognized that the tool is more useful in the hands of a user that has completed the 16 hour AST Level 1 program.
After selecting the appropriate Bulletin Region for your preferred riding area be sure to click on the SUB-REGION, if applicable. The Purcells, for example, if you are trying to find ratings for Gorman Creek, Golden, BC. If you have chosen the wrong sub-region then the terrain ratings will be gray and you will not be able to select them and the star will not appear in the chart on the top right.
Each time that you choose a route or slope from the table, click on the link to the right that says “for more info click here”. Some locations, for example Gorman Creek, do link you to a Google Map. As budgets and forecaster time come available, these links will become more useful.
Follow this link to read the definitions of the Canadian Avalanche Centre Danger Scale
CAC Fort McMurray
CAC Avy Safety Seminar & Beacon Orientation
Oct 21 – Fort McMurray, AB“Hosted by the McMurray Sno-Drifters
Hosted by Four Seasons Powersports
Click on the poster below for details.
Meeting Time
6:30pm – Doors Open
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Pre-registration required.
Meeting Location: Clearwater Public Schools Education Centre
231 Hardin Street, Fort McMurray
View Zac’s Tracs 2009-10 Avalanche Course locations in a larger map
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To Register
CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE REGISTRATION AREA.Confirmed Registrations
To review the class lists for all Zacs Tracs courses please click hereCAC Saskatoon
Nov 9 – Saskatoon, SK
Location: Prairieland Exhibition Park, 503 Ruth Street, Saskatoon
Registration: 6:30pm
Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
.....Registration Form Saskatoon – CLICK HERE
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Nov 30 – Saskatoon, AB
Location: Heritage Inn, 102 Cardinal Crescent, Saskatoon
View Larger Map
Registration: 6:00pm
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
.....Registration Form Saskatoon – CLICK HERE
CAC Spruce Grove
Oct 27 – Spruce Grove, AB – Hosted by the Trailseekers Snowmobile Club
Location: Tri-Leisure Center
Parkland Room 2nd Floor, 221 Campsite Road, Spruce Grove, AB
.....Phone: 780-913-5928 Trailseekers Activity Line
View Larger Map
Registration: 6:30pm
Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
.....Registration Form Spruce Grove – CLICK HERE
CAC Grande Prairie
Feb 4-5 – Grande Prairie, AB – Hosted by the Swan City Snowmobile Club
CLICK HERE to view the Grande Prairie, AB
