Avalanche warning issued by Parks Canada for Alberta, B.C. mountains

Parks Canada is warning backcountry users to be extra careful this weekend in the mountain parks of Alberta and British Columbia because of dangerous avalanche conditions.

The agency's special public avalanche warning (SPAW) includes:

• Jasper National Park.
• Banff National Park.
• Kootenay National Park
• Yoho National Park.

"Over the past week these regions had a major avalanche cycle where numerous large avalanches ran well into the run out zones," Parks Canada said in a release.

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The avalanche risk is rated as "considerable"below treeline, at treelineand at the alpineelevations in these areas.

Avalanche risk is also rated as considerable in Kananaskis Country at treeline and alpine elevations, and in Glacier National Parkbelow the treeline and at the alpine elevation in Glacier National Park.

Backcountry users should check conditions on the Avalanche Canada siteor Parks Canada before heading out and be sure to have avalanchetransceivers, probes and shovels, the agency says.

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