BC Coroner's Avalanche Report
http://www.theprovince.com/news/High...685/story.html
High-powered snowmobiles, green riders cited in deaths
Report: Calls for greater avalanche, safety awareness
By Andy Ivens, The Province January 31, 2010
Following the deaths of 19 snowmobilers in avalanches last winter, the
B.C. Coroner’s Service convened a death review panel, which has released
15 recommendations.
Among the panel’s findings was: “The level of expertise required in
order to make safe travel choices in complex terrain and under difficult
avalanche conditions was beyond that which could be gained through
entry-level recreational avalanche courses.”
Despite the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s (CAC) numerous avalanche
warnings carried by media through the province, 19 snowmobilers died in
11 separate avalanches.
High-powered newer snowmobiles allowing riders more widespread access to
difficult, steep terrain is one reason for the rise in these deadly
incidents.
“In some cases, the groups either ignored or were not aware of cardinal
safety rules, such as not placing more than one snowmobile on a given
slope, as this increased the group’s exposure to avalanche risk,” wrote
Tom Pawlowski, who chaired the 16-member panel.
“In some cases … the persons involved in avalanche incidents did not
have the benefit of even the most basic avalanche training.”
All 19 people died of asphyxia, a lack of oxygen, due to be buried in
the snow. In these conditions death can come quickly.
Four of the incidents involved British Columbians, the other seven
involved Albertans.
“Following this review, the overwhelming sentiment of the panel was that
many of last winter’s fatal incidents resulted, not so much from wilful
exposure to insurmountable known risk, but from underestimation of the
actual risk involved,” wrote Pawlowski.
“One of the all‐encompassing conclusions is that more collective effort
needs to be committed by all stakeholders towards building greater
avalanche awareness and creating a culture of avalanche safety within
the snowmobiling community.”
Among the recommendations:
• The Provincial Emergency Program should partner with the CAC to
develop and deliver avalanche awareness programming for snowmobilers,
similar to an Alberta program funded by that province.
• The CAC and the Insurance Corp. of B.C. should develop avalanche
awareness materials to be distributed at the point of registration of
all snowmobiles purchased in B.C.
• The provincial government and the CAC develop seasonal signage, with a
message raising avalanche awareness, for highway routes leading to
popular snowmobiling areas.
The CAC responded by saying it supports the recommendations.
“The unprecedented number of avalanche fatalities in the snowmobiler
user group last year is part of a longer-term trend with this user group
that has the Centre and its stakeholders very concerned,” said a letter
signed by Steve Blake and Ian Tomm, president and executive director of
the CAC.
Dennis Burns, executive director of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile
Organizations, noted many B.C. snowmobilers do not register their sleds.
“Every snowmobile that is purchased in B.C. needs to be registered to
the rightful owner,” he wrote.
“Many [citizens do not] support this government initiative and the
backcountry is full of non‐registered snowmobiles both new and used.
“This missed revenue for the B.C. government would assist in the
much-needed revenue to fund initiatives and recommendations on
snowmobiling,” said Burns.
Burns also noted B.C. and Newfoundland are the only provinces or
territories that do not require an annual licence fee “to ensure that
every snowmobile is indeed registered to the rightful owner and the
proper taxes have been paid for the transaction.”
He estimated that of the 130,000 snowmobiles in B.C., 15 to 20 per cent
“change ownership annually.”
BC Coroners Avalanche Report
Seriously.
I think my Pieps and the avalung I am getting will help if I am ever buried, but lately I have been thinking about getting avalanche bacon. Initially, I thought it would help me be located by avalanche dogs. But now that I have the avalung I think I could live under the snowpack for hours. But if I had avalanche bacon, I could stretch that into days.
Anyone got some they could part with?
