NORTH Shore Rescue members were on high alert Friday, as avalanche conditions remained high in out-of-bounds areas of local mountains.
Tim Jones of North Shore Rescue said heavy recent snowfalls on top of weak layers underneath have led to fluctuating avalanche risks. Risks in the North Shore mountains were high above treeline on Friday and were expected to moderate throughout the weekend.
Jones warned skiers and snowboarders who venture out of bounds when avalanche risks are high that they shouldnt count on immediate rescue if there is an avalanche, because crews may not be able to safely reach them.
If somebody goes out of the ski area, we may have to make a decision that we cant immediately rescue them, he said.
Slightly further afield, skiers and recreation users are being warned about a high avalanche danger in mountains of the backcountry throughout much of British Columbia that are expected to remain through to Sunday.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a special public avalanche warning Friday that snowpack conditions are expected to be especially dangerous this weekend.
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 now should have local knowledge and a high degree of training and experience.
All backcountry users should carefully monitor avalanche bulletins and be equipped with shovels, probes and transceivers.
This is the second avalanche warning for the south coast area issued by the Canadian Avalanche Centre in as many weeks.
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