BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEMThe Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

Grant Statham

Mountain Risk Specialist

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN

and the

Connaught Creek

February 1, 2003

Parks Canada’s Avalanche Risk Review

36 Recommendations

• Focus on communication

• Information more accessible

November 2004

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

ALPINE

TREELINE

BELOW

TREELINE

Avalanche Danger Scale

15 OPTIONS

SOCIETY UNDERSTANDS

This kind of comprehension was needed for avalanche danger

Frequency of highest danger rating for the CAA Public Avalanche Bulletin, all regions (Data 1994-2004, n=2035)

Low6%

Moderate33%

Considerable44%

High16%

Extreme1%

Canadian and Swiss recreational fatalities vs. Avalanche Danger rating

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Low Moderate Considerable High Extreme

Danger Scale rating

Per

cen

t o

f fa

tali

ties

Canadian fatalities

Swiss fatalities

n= 86 for Canadan= 248 for Switzerland

Version 1

• Mountain/Avalanche

• Action

• International symbols

• Warning colors

• Effective in B&W

Version 5

Spring Icon

Final Edition – Version 7

Text

Version 1

Headers and Footers

Unsuitable

PoorSuitable

Significant

Deteriorating

Moderate

Changing

Good

DifficultUnfavorable

Favorable

Challenging

Variable

Serious

Spring

Considerable

Amateur

UntrainedImportant

Acute

Crucial

Dangerous

Grave

Stable

Fair

SIGNAL WORDSMarginal

Public Focus Testing – 2 Rounds

• Calgary

• Golden

• Revelstoke

• Bow Valley

• Students

• Backcountry skiers

• Shop owners

• Ice Climbers

• Parents

• Snowmobilers

• People off the street

After a total of 15 versions . . .

Avalanche

ConditionsTravel Advice Guidance for Amateur Recreation

GoodNormal Caution

Avalanches are infrequent but possible. Appropriate conditions for informed backcountry travel.

Serious

Extra CautionAvalanches will occur with human and other triggers. Avalanche training and experience are essential for safe backcountry travel.

Poor

Not RecommendedAvalanches are occurring frequently. Inappropriate conditions for backcountry travel without extensive avalanche training and experience.

Variable

Extra CautionConditions change from good with frozen snow to poor with melted snow. Avalanche training and experience are essential to monitor conditions for safe travel.

For more details: www.avalanche.ca or 1 800 667 1105 

Users of this information assume their own risk

Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

LOW

MODERATE

CONSIDERABLE

HIGH

EXTREME

TRANSLATION FROM DANGER SCALE

GOOD

Normal Caution 

Avalanches are infrequent but possible. Appropriate conditions for informed backcountry travel.

SERIOUS

Extra Caution

 Avalanches will occur with human and other triggers. Avalanche training and experience are essential for safe backcountry travel.

POOR

Not Recommended

 Avalanches are occurring frequently. Inappropriate conditions for backcountry travel without extensive avalanche training and

experience.

VARIABLE

Extra Caution

 Conditions change from Good with frozen snow to Poor with melted snow. Avalanche training and experience are essential to monitor

conditions for safe travel.

media portal

www.avalanche.ca

television

newspaper

THANKYOU•Bruce Jamieson

•Karl Klassen

•William Leiss

•Chris Stethem

•Albi Sole

•David Jones

•Pascal Haegeli

•Gisele Danis

•Alan Jones

•Clair Israelson

•Mary Clayton

•Eugene Thomlinson

•John Kelly

•Lise Gautron

•Sylvain Hebert

•Marc Deschenes

•Dominique Boucher

•Stephane Gagnon

•Marc Ledwidge

•Kathy Rettie

•Rob Storeshaw

•CAA Technical Committee

•Bruce Tremper