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Avalanche forecasts are coming to the mountains of western Newfoundland this month. Photo: Newfoundland Field Team
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Forecasting From Coast to Coast
This month, Avalanche Canada begins a pilot project to provide forecasts for the Long Range Mountains in Newfoundland and Labrador. This marks a major milestone in our role as Canada's national public avalanche safety agency. When the forecasts launch Friday, Feb. 18, we will be issuing bulletins for 16 regions from the Yukon to Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. Additionally, we have a strong partnership with Avalanche Quebec and our products are increasingly bilingual. We are proud of our role and thankful to the thousands of people and many partners that have supported us along the way.
Pour la version française, cliquez ici.
In this issue:
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Showing appreciation
Website updates
AvCan in the news
Sponsor thanks
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Partner Profile: Garmin
Avalanche Awareness Days
Upcoming Webinars
Forecasters Blog highlights
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Showing appreciation
Do you follow us on social media? Our Instagram page recently surpassed 40,000 followers and our new TikTok account is blossoming. Our vision is to inspire, engage and empower you to enjoy the backcountry and be safe from avalanches. We hope our content, like this lovely video (click on the image to watch), continues to inspire and keep you safe.
Photo and video: Jennifer Coulter
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Website Updates
We are constantly adding new features and tools to our website for our many users. Check out these recent additions:
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Avalanche Canada in the News
Every so often we like to highlight feature stories about our programs and people. Check these out:
- The Globe and Mail’s Salmaan Farooqi joined us for a field trip and to talk about forecasting and climate change. Check it out.
- Research into snowpack modelling by Dr. Simon Horton, a senior forecaster and postdoctoral researcher at Simon Fraser University, was featured in several news stories.
- Karl Klassen, warning service manager, contributed an insightful article about the process of avalanche forecasting to the Powder Cloud. It is the third article in his series on managing avalanche risk.
James Floyer (left), our forecast program supervisor, and Peter Thurlow, Newfoundland field technician, study the snowpack while in the field with the Globe and Mail's Salmaan Farooqi. Photo: Salmaan Farooqi, Globe and Mail.
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Partner Thanks
We are very grateful for the ongoing support of our many collaborators. They provide us with direct funding and products that are used by our forecasters, field teams, and outreach program, and support us in many other ways.
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Outdoor Research raised more than $10,000 for Avalanche Canada through its VIP Donation Program, which requires users to donate to the non-profit of their choice upon checkout. We are very grateful to OR for including us as one of the recipients, and to the many people who opted to donate to us.
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RAB, a supporting sponsor, provided our forecasting and field teams with gloves and the Guides Siltarp Shelter this winter. The RAB shelter (pictured) was requested specifically by our field teams for uses in emergencies. We are grateful to RAB for supplying us with this gear despite global supply chain issues.
Photo: South Rockies Field Team
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Whistler Blackcomb, a long time Contributor-level sponsor, recently renewed its sponsorship agreement. It is contributing $3,000 per year over the next three years through the EpicPromise Funding Grant.
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Ole Originals donated $2,553.45 from sales of Avalanche Canada-branded apparel. The Vancouver-based clothing company created a variety of shirts, hats, and hoodies and donated 25% of sales to support our programs. The clothing is still for sale on Ole’s website.
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Partner Profile: Garmin
Garmin, a Supporter-level sponsor, makes significant contributions in goods and services to our forecast program. It provides 13 inReach devices that are used by our field teams, and Professional Flex Unlimited plans for each device for six months.
Garmin inReach devices serve as important safety and communication tools for our field teams. Our six field teams use them to track their trips, for emergency communications, and to provide our forecasters with real-time updates about conditions from the field. Thank you Garmin for helping keep our field teams and the public safe in the backcountry.
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Avalanche Awareness Days
We'd like to thank all the organizations that have hosted Avalanche Awareness Days events this winter. These are important grassroots events that celebrate our winter heritage and build awareness of backcountry safety. This winter, events were hosted by BC Parks, snowmobile clubs, and ski resorts. We especially appreciate the Fernie Snowmobile Association, which raised $500 for our South Rockies Field Team at its event. Check out the schedule for a full list of events.
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Jennifer Coulter (middle), our South Rockies field team leader, helps two people with transceiver search practice at the Fernie Snowmobile Association's Avalanche Awareness Days event on Jan. 22. The FSA raised $500 for the field team at the event. Photo: Nicole Matei
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Upcoming Webinars
Our webinar schedule has ramped up this month, with weekly presentations by our field teams across the country coming up. Here's what's on the schedule for the rest of the winter:
- Thursday, Feb. 10: Conditions update for Vancouver Island and how to make the most of the Mountain Information Network. Sponsored by BCA.
- Thursday, Feb. 17: Avalanche forecasting in Newfoundland.
- Thursday, Feb. 24: Conditions update in the North Rockies and Northwest Inland. Sponsored by Garmin.
- Thursday, March 3: The spring ski traverse—planning and your daily process. Sponsored by Outdoor Research.
- Thursday, March 10: The Daily Mindset. Sponsored by Mammut.
- Thursday, March 31: Transition to spring. Sponsored by Arc'Teryx
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Community Outreach Events
We are happy to return to outdoor outreach events this winter. While our webinars are a resounding success, they don't replace engaging with backcountry users in-person. Here's a few events we'll be at this month:
- Saturday, Feb. 12, Backcountry Fest, Mt. Cain, BC: Our Vancouver Island field team be set up for transceiver practice, rescue scenarios, and to provide information on avalanche safety.
- Saturday, Feb. 19, Revelstoke Snowmobile Club Family Day event: Avalanche Canada will be at the Boulder Mountain cabin for transceiver practice, a scavenger hunt, and other fun activities.
- Sunday, Feb. 27, Cabin Fever Days, Mackenzie, BC: Our North Rockies field team will be at the Little Mac ski hill from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for transceiver practice and rescue scenarios.
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Forecasters' Blog Highlights
Have you read our Forecasters Blog this winter? If not, you're missing out on some great advice for managing this winter's tricky avalanche conditions and other avalanche safety tips. Here are a few highlights:
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