Avalanche Canada said the thaw cycle Prince George is experiencing increases the risk of avalanche activity in the area.
The northern capital is expected to have plus temperatures until Sunday.
Forecaster, Colin Garritty stated avalanches often occur when the depth of the snowpack exceeds the roughness of the terrain to create a smooth surface.
“So places where this has already happened or where the snow lies over smooth ground, they need as little as 30 centimetres of snow before avalanches can happen. Many places like this exist already and more and more of them are created each time we get new snow.”
In addition, a weather pattern like this can make conditions ripe for avalanche activity, and places like Upper Torpy already have steep slopes.
“With powdered snow, we are talking about recent snow, fresh snow – it’s the kind of stuff that can make an avalanche, and when you think of wind moving that fresh snow all around, which it has done recently it now it kind of that architect where it has that building block.”
Garritty added riders now need to exercise an extra layer of caution with the winter season now here.
“The big thing that people need to think about is that winter conditions now exist in the mountains. It’s on, it’s very exciting and it also means that anybody travelling into avalanche terrain needs to factor avalanches into their trip planning.”
“There are places where people can go and recreate safely. I would say that in pretty much any of the locations that folks have in mind, there are going to be safe and unsafe terrain choices within each of those areas. So, it’s really important how to recognize avalanche terrains.”
Avalanche Canada will issue its first forecast of the season on Friday with the Cariboo and North Rockies areas expected to have elevated danger ratings.
Garrity reminds people to take the necessary safety equipment like a transceiver, shovel, and probe as well as pick the terrain that is appropriate to ride in for the avalanche conditions.
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