BACKCOUNTRY skiers and recreation users are being warned about a high avalanche danger in mountains of the south coast inland this weekend.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a special public avalanche warning Friday that snowpack conditions are expected to be especially dangerous through to today.
Conditions mean any avalanches triggered are likely to be much bigger than expected, the centre warned in a release.
Avalanches could also be triggered remotely. Many areas usually considered safe - such as slopes with lower angles and slopes below treeline - may also be hazardous now.
The centre said anyone venturing into avalanche territory this weekend should have a high degree of training and experience. All backcountry users should carefully monitor avalanche bulletins and be equipped with shovels, probes and transceivers.
On the North Shore, rescuers were on high alert Friday, when avalanche conditions in out-of-bounds areas were high at treeline and "considerable" below treeline.
Tim Jones of North Shore Rescue said heavy recent snowfalls on top of weak layers underneath have led to fluctuating avalanche risks. When risks are high, it may also impact the ability of rescue crews to get to survivors in the event of an avalanche, Jones warned, adding those inclined to go out of bounds should take that seriously.
"If somebody goes out of the ski area, we may have to make a decision that we can't immediately rescue them," he said.
