Advisory warns of heightened avalanche risk in backcountry

The first Yukon avalanche advisory reportof the season has been issued, and themessage to backcountry adventurers is clear: keep it simple this Christmas and stay safe.

The report sayssnow conditions are still largely unstable, so Yukonersheading to the White Pass or HainesSummitareasshould proceed with caution.

"We're definitely in a period of rising danger right now," said Ben Horowitz,with the Yukon Avalanche Association (YAA).

Late fall conditions were mostly dry and crusty, until a storm rolled through two weeks ago dumping over 50 centimetres of snow. Horowitz says when that much fresh snow falls on bare or crusty ground, the conditions become ripe for avalanche activity.

"A cautious approach is warranted,"he says.

'Red flags' may not be evident

Two weeks ago, an avalanche was triggered by a split-boarder exploring some of the more complex terrain around the Log Cabin area ofthe White Pass. Luckily, no one was seriously injured in the ordeal but one skier was hit by the avalanche and carried downhill a short distance.

Jasmin Dobson, who has been skiing backcountry across North America and Europe for 15 years,was in the area the day before the slide was triggered,and she's also been around previous avalanches in the White Pass area.

She says that the classic "red flag" indicators of avalanche activity such as "whomping" and cracking aren't widespread in the pass right now, but that doesn't mean it's entirely safe.

"It happens really quickly," she said."Everything is fine one second, but if you're in the wrong spot, you can trigger something."

The latest avalanche advisory recommends "low angle terrain with uniform snow distribution" as the safest place to play over the holidays, or until conditions evolve.

Dobson says it's important for backcountry users to remember that even at lower elevations, hazards such as rocks, tree wells and open water could be hiding just below the fresh snow.

She says people who want to get out over the holidays but haven't been out yet this season should check out the Yukon Backcountry Snow Sharing Network page.

Horowitz said it's important forbackcountryusers to getinformed before they head out.

"The truth is, sometimes we just have to take it as it comes and manage stability, and manage our exposure to the mountainous environment, as kind of the fundamental approach to being in the backcountry," he said.