The avalanche risk for Jasper National Park climbed to high from Jan. 21 to 23, prompting Parks Canada to release a special warning bulletin.

The bulletin was released to coincide with the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s (CAC) warnings for most of B.C.’s mountainous regions. 

Thea Mitchell, spokesperson for Jasper National Park, was happy to report that there were no incidents reported despite heavy use of cross country ski trails in the area over the weekend. 

“There were tons of people out using the trails,” she said.

The bulletin put the risk at high across the three regions, alpine, below alpine and treeline. 

“Basically it was issued to have people pay attention to what’s going on out there,” Mitchell said. 

The danger arrived when new snow fell on an already weak snow pack. The CAC began reporting bigger than normal avalanches in back country areas. Mitchell said the events were smaller within the park, but the risk was still significant. 

The rating was brought back down to considerable on Jan. 24, but Mitchell said it is important to check the avalanche bulletins before heading out into the backcountry, as close to the trip as possible.

Bringing the proper equipment on an out-of-bounds trip is important as well, these items include avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes. 

“That’s the key equipment,” Mitchell said.

Another important step is taking avalanche courses from local guides who can provide the right training to safely use backcountry terrain, and to understand the risk associated with each avalanche bulletin rating.

Mitchell suggests doing your homework when heading out. That includes trip planning, letting someone know where you’re headed and knowing the rating of the terrain being used. 

Jasper National Park has a terrain rating system that is available on its website. For those wanting to use the backcountry in non-avalanche prone areas, the information is available online. 

“The Bench is a great area,” Mitchell suggests.

The recent warm weather is good for the weak snow pack, but Mitchell said the change is gradual and adrenalin seekers shouldn’t expect an overnight change. Warm temperatures could take until the spring to penetrate all layers of the snow pack. 

“Eventually the warm weather will work its way through the snow pack,” she said. 

Mitchell said the riskiest areas are the deeper snow, or the “hollow snow pack.” Avalanche ratings do not change until there is an event such as snow or a drastic change in temperature. 

“It’s fluid,” Mitchell said. “It’ll stay similar until there’s a change, and that change is more snow.”

See the Jasper National Park’s website www.pc.gc.ca//jasper/ for avalanche bulletins and terrain ratings.