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 Rescue Gear Is Not Enough

Education and Preparation Key to Avoiding Avalanche Accidents

January 15, 2009, Revelstoke, BC:  A series of recent avalanche fatalities in BC has underlined the need to communicate an important message-rescue gear is not enough! Twelve of the 13 people killed in this province were wearing transceivers and at least three were wearing the new air bag systems.

"Rescue equipment is only one part of the equation," says Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) Public Avalanche Forecaster Karl Klassen. "The focus should really be on choosing terrain appropriate to the conditions and preventing accidents, not just reacting to them." The CAC is working together with the BC Snowmobile Federation, the Association of BC Snowmobile Clubs and the Alberta Snowmobile Association to encourage these safe habits for all the members of their organizations.

Backcountry users need current snowpack information and avalanche education to make appropriate terrain choices. "The snowpack is constantly changing," explains Klassen. "Public forecasters devote a tremendous amount of time and expertise to tracking those changes and communicating the hazard as it fluctuates throughout the winter. Everyone using the winter backcountry should be taking advantage of this service and staying in tune with these changes." Avalanche bulletins are available at www.avalanche.ca  or by phone at 1 800 667 1105.

Avalanche education is available through many different providers throughout western Canada.  The CAC has course providers posted on our website, listed by location. A basic avalanche awareness course is sixteen hours over two days and focuses on recognizing avalanche terrain and trip planning. Instructors who teach snowmobile-specific courses are highlighted.

The CAC issues avalanche forecasts three times a week throughout the winter, and daily during the Christmas and Easter holiday periods. The CAC website also hosts the public forecasts issued by the mountain National Parks, Whistler/Blackcomb, Alberta's Kananaskis Country, and the Centre d'avalanche de la Haute Gaspésie in Québec.

For more information contact

Mary Clayton, CAC Communications Director

250.837.2141 (228)

mclayton@avalanche.ca

 

AVALANCHE INFORMATION

PLEASE CLICK ON THE AVALUATOR LOGO BELOW FOR AVALANCHE HAZARD RATINGS PRIOR TO VENTURING INTO AVALANCHE PRONE AREAS.

 

The following link will take you to the Canadian Avalanche Association's on line training course.

AVALANCHE "FIRST RESPONSE" ON LINE TRAINING COURSE

CAA LINK:
http://access.jibc.bc.ca/avalancheFirstResponse/index.htm

Please be careful!

 

"SAFE RIDERS" ON LINE TRAINING COURSE

 

 

Clikable link:

http://www.snowmobilers.org/saferider/homepage/page_00.html

 

 

The ABC SNOWMOBILE CLUBS

"Snowmobile Safe Operators Program"

is now in place!

This program is comprised of a number of components including, "Recreational Snowmobile Safety", "Commercial Snowmobile Users Safe Operation", "The Snowmobile Host Program" and a basic "Backcountry Behaviour and Stewardship Guideline".

These courses are tailored to meet the needs of the entire Snowmobile Community, at all levels.

A list of Certified Instructors has been compiled. For further information or an Instructor in your area, please contact us at: info@abcsnow.ca as we look forward to assisting you.

 

Any members who wish to become ABCSC Safety Instructors or who require recertification, would you please contact Arnold Wied @ (250) 566-4627 or 1-888-766-9612. We would greatly appreciate your participation in our Safety Program.

 

JUST A REMINDER

FOREST SERVICE ROAD USE REGULATION

B.C. Reg. 70/2004
effective February 27, 2004

Consolidated to July 23, 2004
Includes B.C. Reg. 354/2004 amendments

 

 

Snowmobiles

3 (1) Despite the requirements of sections 2 (c) and 12, a person is not required to hold a subsisting driver's licence issued under the Motor Vehicle Act or a valid and subsisting contract of third party liability insurance while operating a snowmobile on a forest service road in compliance with subsection (3).

(2) Subject to compliance with subsection (3) and with the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act and the regulations under that Act, a person may operate a snowmobile on a forest service road.

(3) A person must not operate a snowmobile on a forest service road if it appears that the road has been snowplowed, or that the road is otherwise fit for travel by motor vehicles other than snowmobiles.

4) Despite subsections (1) to (3), snowmobiles that operate on the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail may use plowed forest roads, subject to: (a) the drivers licence and insurance provisions in this regulation for motor vehicles, (b) the implementation of the safety and risk management plan for the trail, and (c) the use of a helmet by the driver and passengers of the snowmobile.

 

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