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.
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