Jake Courtepatte 聽| Special to the 51暗网
An avalanche triggered on Whistlers Peak has Jasper National Parks staff on high alert.
Triggered by a solo skier last week, the size four avalanche fell about 100 metres away in what is being described as a 鈥渟hallow, wind- effected area.鈥�
Jasper staff is warning residents and tourists that those travelling in avalanche-prone areas should have the proper training to assess avalanche terrain and the skills and equipment needed for self-rescue.
Though the terrain in Jasper is often vastly different from that in Whistlers Peak, Avalanche Canada states that an avalanche can happen on any snow-covered terrain above around a 10-metre by 10-metre area, or about the size of a tennis court.
鈥淚t is important to remember that there are very different snow zones in the Jasper National Park forecast region,鈥� reads a release put out by Parks Mountain Safety staff.
Avalanche Canada scales avalanche sizes on a measurement of one to five, with a four being about 40 times larger than a one. A four could destroy a large truck, several buildings, or a forest area of up to four hectares.
Parks Mountain Safety staff note that the lifting of the seasonal caribou habitat closures in the Tonquin, which opened in mid- February, and Maligne/Brazeau, which opens Feb. 29, creates a much more significant recreation area and therefore poses a greater danger to those unfamiliar with the terrain.
鈥淭he snowpack in these areas will again be different but, the deep instability will remain with us until the snow melts away.鈥�
The release called the deep persistent slab problem of the Icefields Parkway 鈥渁 very complicated puzzle that requires careful observation and conservative decision making.
鈥淭his is the quintessential Rocky Mountain snowpack, where many of the obvious signs of snowpack instability and avalanche hazard are often subtle and hard to discern.
"Use good travel habits, minimize your exposure to large features (especially when there are other users above), carry avalanche safety gear and always have a means of emergency communication.鈥�
The release relays that cell phone coverage is not always reliable in the Jasper backcountry.
According to Parks Canada, the avalanche rating in Jasper remains at moderate at the alpine and above the treeline, while sitting at low below the treeline. A number of avalanche warnings have already been triggered this calendar year.
