Avalanche Canada issues special warning for K-Country, Waterton, southeastern B.C.

Avalanche Canada issued a special avalanche warning Thursday, saying recent heavy snowfallin the mountains has increased the risk of backcountry users triggering slides.

"In many areas, a significant recent storm has doubled the depth of the currentsnowpack," Avalanche Canada said in a press release.

The warning is in effect from Friday to Mondayin these areas:

• Kananaskis Country.
• Waterton Lakes National Park.
• Lizard Range west of Fernie.
• Flathead ranges southeast of Fernie.
• Southern part of the Purcells region.
• Eastern part of the Kootenay Boundary region.

Environment Canada is also warning people about conditions in the mountain parks.

The agency issued a snowfall warning for the Kananaskis-Canmore area, and winter storm alerts for southeastern B.C. predicting 15 to 20 centimetres of snow in much of the area.

Recreational backcountry users with little or noavalanchetraining or experience are advised to avoidavalanche-proneterrain, or to stay in areas where therisk has been professionally managed.

And experienced backcountry users are urged to keep to simple terrain with low angles and with no large steep slopes or cornices above.

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

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