Full scope of snow situations in Ok-Nation unclear after climber dying

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Avalanche consultants are warning of comparatively excessive threat of early season avalanches in Kananaskis Nation after an ice climber was killed Saturday.

The climber, a 29-year-old man from Squamish, B.C., is the primary to be killed in an avalanche in Ok-Nation this early within the season in 16 years.

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The latest fatality occurred in 2007 on Mount Sparrowhawk, additionally killing an ice climber — although there have since been shut calls, stated James Floyer, program director for Avalanche Canada.

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November is a very fascinating time for ice climbers because of the lack of snow and colder temperatures, Floyer stated. However fluctuating situations additionally result in wind slabs constructing within the alpine, which might quickly develop and are simply dislodged by pure causes.

“Once you get these wind occasions coming by, it’s actually crucial to concentrate to what’s taking place — not simply on the slopes that you just could be standing on, but in addition what’s taking place above you,” Floyer stated.

Avalanche Canada is recommending hikers and climbers in Ok-Nation keep away from steep, confined terrain as winds are persevering with to construct giant wind slabs on dry, unfastened snow within the alpine.

These situations resulted in Saturday’s deadly avalanche as two hikers descended the Lone Ranger ice climb in Ok-Nation, in line with Avalanche Canada.

Floyer stated the avalanche wasn’t notably giant, however options together with the gully terrain elevated the pressure related to the avalanche, whereas the hikers have been already on a precarious slope.

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There are lots of unknowns in regards to the present snowpack — and lots of hidden hazards — within the Kananaskis space, Floyer stated. Avalanche Canada’s info streams don’t start reporting to it till Nov. 25, when the non-profit begins forecasting.

Till then, it depends on public submissions and varied experiences. Floyer stated he’s conscious of “difficult” avalanche situations in Glacier Nationwide Park.

“We don’t actually have a full appreciation with that pretty restricted set of situations.”

‘Exit with the mindset that it’s most likely somewhat worse than you suppose it’s’

That lack of easy-to-find info ramps up the significance of climbing Fb teams and different social media teams, Floyer stated.

“It underscores the significance of casting round and asking round as a lot as attainable . . . (ask) skilled associates who’ve been on the market, Parks Canada employees, Ok-Nation employees,” he stated.

Seeing snow blowing off ridges or listening to wind whistling are indicators that situations are doubtless altering quickly, Floyer added, and are a sign it’s time to go down.

“Exit with the mindset that it’s most likely somewhat worse than you suppose it’s . . . for those who exit with that mindset, you’re extra prone to make good selections.”

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Avalanche management going down in Ok-Nation

There are presently a handful of places in Alberta with excessive avalanche threat scores. The Ok-Nation area is presently underneath “appreciable” avalanche threat, that means pure avalanches are attainable and human-triggered ones are doubtless, and small avalanches are taking place in lots of areas.

Giant parts north of Banff, spanning Lake Louise and up Freeway 93 to Jasper, are underneath the identical threat ranking.

Following Saturday’s deadly avalanche, Alberta Parks has closed the Ranger Creek drainage space, together with its decommissioned car parking zone and 4 ice climb areas, “till additional discover.”

Specialists on Monday have been executing avalanche management within the area utilizing explosives, resulting in intermittent closures. Robust winds have been anticipated by noon, adopted by about 5 centimetres of snow.

Final season noticed 12 avalanche deaths in B.C.

Saturday’s avalanche dying was the second in 2023 — a 22-year-old skier died in April after veering right into a closed space close to Lake Louise Ski Resort, setting off an avalanche that buried two others — and is simply the second since 2021, in line with Avalanche Canada information.

However harmful situations final season resulted in 12 avalanche deaths throughout the border in B.C., together with one heli-skiing slide close to Panorama Mountain Resort that killed three German vacationers.

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