[MCR] Rocky Mountain National Parks and K-Country SPAW, Jan. 17th-21st, 2014.

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Parks Canada and Kananaskis Country, Alberta Parks are issuing a special 
public avalanche warning for many of the mountain parks in the Rocky 
Mountains.  This warning is in effect from Friday January 17 to Monday 
January 21 and includes Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks as 
well as Kananaskis Country. 
The snowpack in these areas of the Rockies is complex this year. There is 
a deep persistent weak layer at the base of the snowpack which has 
recently been overloaded by snow and wind. Avalanche professionals 
throughout these areas of the Rockies have seen numerous full depth 
avalanches sliding to ground on this layer in the last week and running to 
the end of historical runouts. There have been numerous very unusual 
avalanche events that have caught seasoned professionals by surprise and 
have led avalanche forecasters to have a low confidence in this year’s 
snowpack.
Additionally, we have seen several close calls from recreationalists in 
the backcountry throughout these regions including multiple burials where 
people have been very lucky to survive. 
Although natural avalanche activity is tapering, conditions remain prime 
for human triggering. Warm temperatures and sunny skies will attract many 
to the mountains this weekend and these same weather factors will 
destabilize the snowpack during the heat of the day.
Parks Canada and Kananaskis Country recommend recreational backcountry 
users with little or no avalanche training or experience avoid avalanche 
terrain, or undertake activities in which avalanche risk is managed by 
professionals. Experienced backcountry recreationists are urged to travel 
on simple terrain such as small, low angle, well-supported features with 
no large steep slopes or cornices above. When temperatures are warmest and 
especially if the sun is out, all avalanche terrain should be avoided, 
including valley bottom runout zones. 
Every person in a backcountry party needs an avalanche transceiver, probe 
and shovel and everyone should have some training in recognizing avalanche 
terrain and safe backcountry travel techniques. For more information on 
the current avalanche forecast, click on “bulletins” at avalanche.ca/cac. 
For more discussion on this season’s snowpack, check the forecaster’s blog 
at avalanche.ca/cac/xxx. For updates on current avalanche observations or 
near misses check out: facebook.com/ParksMountainSafety or 
facebook.com/KCPublicSafety
Parks Canada Visitor Safety 
Banff, Yoho & Kootenay National Parks 
www.parksmountainsafety.ca   
www.parcsecuritemontagne.ca 

Kananaskis Country Public Safety
facebook.com/KCPublicSafety
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