By Spencer Sterritt

Life-threatening conditions create avalanche warning for V.I. backcountry

Feb 22, 2019 | 4:20 PM

NANAIMO — Weekend hikers and skiers are warned to follow the rules and trust their training after an avalanche warning was issued for Vancouver Island.

Jan Neuspiel with the Vancouver Island Avalanche Centre said the special alert will remain in effect until Sunday, Feb. 24. It also covers the South Coast, where a snowshoer lost his life earlier this week in an avalanche.

“The conditions which made for that accident are exactly the conditions of concern bringing on this public avalanche warning,” Neuspiel told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A weak layer of the snowpack is covered by fresh snow from late week storms and many areas are not as solid as they might seem.

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“It’s going to get sunny immediately after (the snow) and people are going to want to go out and play in this fresh snow. There’s a good chance they’re not going to be aware there’s this unstable layer underneath,” Neuspiel said.

He urged outdoors enthusists to trust their guts and training when in the back country. Those who don’t have avalanche training and might not know what to look for are to stay within all boundaries.

An Australian woman lost her life in an avalanche on Thursday after snowboarding in a closed off area at Whistler Blackcomb.

Anyone who does brave the backcountry shouldn’t leave home without supplies to last several days longer than their planned trek.

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