Avalanche Canada issues special warning for areas in B.C.

Avalanche Canada has issued an avalanche warning for recreationalbackcountry users in some areas of B.C. this weekend.

TheSpecial Public Avalanche Warning forB.C'.s Central and Southern Interior Rangesincludes:

• North Columbia
• South Columbia
• ThePurcells
• TheKootenayBoundary

Glacier National Park is also issuing a public warning for backcountry users in that region.

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"Recent new snow and wind have deposited up to a metre of new snow across these regions that overlays a weak layer," said JamesFloyer, Avalanche Canada's forecasting program supervisor.

"We've seen this layer fail a number of times over the past few days, resulting in some close calls. Our concern is that as the sun comes out this weekend, this weak layer will become more easily triggered.

"And with the amount of snow that's on top of it we could be seeing some very large and dangerous avalanches."

Avalanche Canada advises avoiding large slopes in the alpine and attreeline, especially slopes that have not been previously heavily ridden.

It says everyone in the backcountry should havean avalanche transceiver in transmit mode,and carrya probe and a shovel.

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