‘Low’ is not ‘no’: Don’t be fooled by reduced avalanche danger ratings
Posted February 19, 2019 5:57 am.
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NORTH SHORE (NEWS 1130) – The avalanche on Mount Seymour on Monday is a dramatic reminder that they are still possible, even if the danger rating sits at “low” or “moderate.”
Outdoor educator Brent Hillier, who has worked on the mountain for a decade, says sometimes a low or moderate rating can lull us into a false sense of security.
“‘Low’ is certainly not ‘no,'” he said.
“Some of the more catastrophic accidents in Canada have actually happened during ‘moderate’ [ratings]. Partially, because people’s guards are down,” he added.
“Wind is almost always a problem, especially up in the alpine in that tree line.”
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Hillier says with “low” or “moderate” ratings, you could still see a size 2 avalanche.
“You’re talking about a tennis court worth of snow,” he explained. “You can actually get size 3 avalanches, which is about the size of a football field worth of snow.”
He’s emphasizing the need to always be prepared.
“It’s very important to make sure that you’ve got your shovel, your transceiver and your probe — and that everybody in your group has that — and everybody knows how to perform companion rescue. If you’re caught in an avalanche, there’s not enough time to rely on seach and rescue [or] ski patrol.”
Hillier says when he took some students to the mountain over the weekend to test the snowpack and they found some warning signs to suggest an avalanche was potentially in the cards.
