North Shore Rescue is warning even the most experienced outdoor adventurers to steer clear of the backcountry this week after a bout of nasty weather raised the risk of avalanche dramatically.
The winds, rain and fluctuating temperatures of the past few days have destabilized much of the snowpack, according to the organization, meaning anyone venturing outside marked ski areas will be putting their life in danger.
"The freezing level is going all over the place, we're getting heavy precipitation - snow and rain - and we're getting high winds," said team leader Tim Jones. "They're all adding to a very high avalanche hazard. . . . Our very strong advice is for people to stay out of the backcountry, period."
Skiers who go out of bounds and find themselves in trouble may be on their own, he added.
"We would most likely not be able to go in after them," said Jones.
The warning, issued at the end of last week, applies to all ungroomed areas from the snowline to the top of the mountains, he said. It is expected to stay in place through Wednesday.
The Canadian Avalanche Association issued a similar bulletin in December, but at the time it only applied to non-experts.
For more information and regular updates, visit the association's website at www.avalanche.ca.
Follow us on Twitter: @NorthShoreNews
