An avalanche was triggered in an out-of-bounds area at Big White Ski Resort on Saturday morning.
The resort posted the incident on social media, stating that it occurred around 11:30 a.m. and was set off by a skier in the Eco Bowl behind the Falcon chairlift.
The resort mentioned on Facebook that three skiers were involved in the incident, emphasizing the high risks present beyond the resort's marked boundaries.
“Fortunately, all three individuals involved are unharmed. Nevertheless, this avalanche was powerful enough to obliterate a motor vehicle. The hazard rating for avalanches is substantial!”
Avalanche Canada cautioned on Friday that while sunny and warm weather this weekend is perfect for outdoor activities, it can also lead to highly perilous avalanche conditions.
“Nearly all of our forecasted regions are at a high risk for the majority of the weekend,” the organization conveyed.
“Steer clear of avalanche terrain and exposure to dangers from above.”
While clarifying the conditions, Avalanche Canada indicated that most of western Canada has experienced a series of significant avalanches triggered by humans since the beginning of March.
“The cause of these persistent slab avalanches is a fragile layer above a crust that developed in early February,” it explained.
“The behavior of these avalanches is troubling, as many have been set off remotely, occurring in areas with minimal slope, and starting partway down the slopes. Despite the layer being buried deeper and deeper, these avalanches have been occurring nearly every day throughout March.”
If you do venture into the backcountry, Avalanche Canada strongly advises taking the following precautions:
- Choose activities or routes that do not involve exposure to avalanche terrain.
- Steer clear of passing below avalanche paths, including trails at the bottom of valleys that pass through avalanche runouts.
- Keep in mind that numerous avalanches have been remotely triggered from low-angle terrain.
Big White endorsed those recommendations.
“Please refrain from venturing beyond the resort boundaries if you are not prepared and knowledgeable about the conditions, and equipped with the necessary gear.”
