Avalanche warning system gets ‘mobile-ized’

An avalanche in motion - don't get caught in its path (Parks Canada photo)

New avalanche bulletins for mobiles and smartphones announced.

Nov 10, 2011 — The Federal government has taken another giant step in its efforts to prevent the tragic deaths that occur each winter when skiers and snowmobilers take to Canada’s backcountry wilderness.

In behalf of Peter Kent, the Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, his parliamentary secretary, Michelle Rempel has announced the implementation of a new standardized format for public avalanche bulletins, enabling backcountry users to make informed decisions when entering avalanche terrain.

In her statement, Ms. Rempel said, “We share the objective of minimizing the number of avalanche fatalities and to improve the experience of those who use the backcountry…”

Taking advantage of the latest developments in technology, avalanche forecasting and risk communication theory, the new avalanche bulletin structure will significantly reduce the amount of text, incorporate graphics and improvements resulting from the recently revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale (a Parks Canada-led initiative announced in 2010). Beginning November, 2011 the new format will be used by Parks Canada and the Canadian Avalanche Centre and will be accessible for mobile and smartphone applications as well.

Perhaps unknown to most of us is the fact that Canada is and has been for a number of years, a world leader in avalanche education, awareness and safety. A number of Canadian-born initiatives are being implemented internationally, including in the United States, Switzerland, Norway, France, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and Japan.

In the spring of 2003, Parks Canada undertook an independent review of winter backcountry risk in the mountain national parks. Thirty-six recommendations were accepted, marking a starting point for Parks Canada to make fundamental improvements to public avalanche safety.

Parks Canada photo

In November 2004, a new avalanche terrain rating system was unveiled for 250 backcountry areas commonly used by the public in the mountain national parks. The first of its kind in the world, the system provides clear-cut criteria for the public to determine where it is safe to ski.

New policies were introduced for custodial groups planning backcountry travel in the mountain national parks. Groups such as schools are now required to utilize the services of a certified guide when travelling in high-risk areas of the backcountry and prevention and awareness training is encouraged.

School outreach programs were developed that targeted students living in mountain communities where avalanche safety needs to be a regular part of life. The Avi-smart program began in 29 grade 7-10 classes in Banff and Canmore, AB in 2006. The program has expanded to schools in Revelstoke, Golden, Invermere, BC and Pincher Creek, AB, and reaches 1,500 students every year.

In 2010, with the participation of the Canadian Avalanche Centre, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, United States Forest Service and the Colorado Avalanche Information Centre, Parks Canada led the development of a new North American Avalanche Danger Scale. The new icon-based scale has improved the clarity and utility of how avalanche danger and risk is communicated to the public, establishing a single North American standard for avalanche warning systems.

Parks Canada operates a full-service avalanche risk control program in the mountain parks and spends approximately $1.7 million annually on avalanche-related activities in western Canada, including highway avalanche control, a 24/7 capacity search and rescue program, and regular avalanche bulletins in both official languages.

“While we will never completely eliminate the risk, our Government – along with our partners – seeks to provide backcountry users with information that could ultimately save their lives,” added Minister Kent.

Avalanche bulletins are among the most visited pages on Parks Canada’s website ( http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca ).

In addition, the bulletins are shared with the Canadian Avalanche Centre, Canada’s national public avalanche safety organization, and made available to the public on its website ( http://www.avalanche.ca ).

For more information on Parks Canada’s backcountry safety initiatives, please visit http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca