Avalanche risk likely high in White Pass, says Yukon Avalanche Association

Variable weather through Yukon and northern B.C. haslikely created dangerous conditions this week in the White Pass area, according to the Yukon Avalanche Association (YAA).

"I would give things a few days," said JasminDobson, vice president of the non-profit YAA.

She said rapidly-changing temperatures, combined with heavy snowfall (expected in White Pass in the coming days)can increase avalanche risk.

However, Dobson's advice is based partly on guesswork andon avalanche forecasts from other, nearby regions Haines, Alaska, and northwestern B.C. The YAA does not have the money to collect its own data from the White Pass area.

"We have an idea, but because we don't have those avalanche technicians out there gathering information, we can't produce a forecast," she said.

Some of YAA's funding for avalanche forecast services has comefrom the federal and territorial governments, but it's not enough. Dobson said the organization has struggled to find alternate funding, and so it won't produce any forecasts until March.

In the meantime, Dobsonsays skiers and snowmobilershaveto rely on other backcountry enthusiastswho sharetheir observations online.

"That's allwe have. And that's not from professionals, that's just from other recreationalists out there,that are skiing and letting other people know what they see," she said.

The YAA hopes to extend its forecastseason next winter, but that will depend on money. Without additional funds, "we're going to have to look at maybe a different way of doing things up here," Dobson said.