Over the last 10 years, on average, close to 15 people were killed in avalanches every year, according to statistics compiled by Parks Canada.
Just over 40 per cent of those fatalities involved snowmobilers.
The 2008 – 2009 winter season was particularly treacherous in British Columbia, as 19 recreational snowmobile operators died as a result of being buried alive in avalanches, all men.
In an effort to do their part, the Wells Snowmobile Club is offering an avalanche safety course, beginning, Feb. 11, at the Wells Curling Club, 6 p.m.
“There have been too many tragedies,” president of the Wells-Barkerville Snowmobile Club Phil Leroy said.
Leroy, who has been a snowmobile operator for 30 years, speaks from experience, as he survived an avalanche while snowboarding on Mount Agnes.
“I’m glad I was wearing my beacon,” he said.
Leroy’s experience also puts to rest another common misconception.
“People think avalanches only happen on the bigger and steeper slopes,” Leroy said.
“That’s wrong, avalanches can happen anywhere.”
Avalanche beacons are small electronic devices worn by snowmobile operators that can emit and receive electronic signals.
Thus they are useful in letting rescue teams know where you are, but at the flick of a switch can be used as receivers to help rescue teams locate buried avalanche victims.
The Wells-Barkerville Snowmobile Club contracted provincial avalanche and avalanche safety expert Steve Portman to deliver the course.
Portman has delivered similar courses on behalf of the RCMP.
The avalanche safety course begins with time in the classroom learning the different types of avalanche, what conditions favour the triggering of an avalanche and how to determine avalanche risk on-site.
The second day, Saturday, course participants hop on their snowmobiles to hit the trails where they apply what they learned in the classroom, including the proper use of beacons and other safety equipment such as probes, inflatable airbags and shovels.
Probes are like collapsible tent poles, Leroy explained and they are used to probe the snow for buried victims.
A recent advance in technology has allowed the use of probes as antennae for beacons.
Inflatable airbags are another recent development in avalanche safety. Worn like a backpack, the airbags, when inflated, help reduce the risk of being buried in an avalanche, or at least reduced the depth at which a person is buried, Leroy explained.
However, having the appropriate safety gear is not enough, Leroy said and leads to one of the most common misconceptions among snowmobile operators.
“People think if they have the equipment they will survive an avalanche,” Leroy said.
Not so.
Without proper instruction, Leroy said, on the use of the equipment and, as the old saying goes, practice, practice, practice, the safety equipment loses its effectiveness.
So, practice is exactly what participants in the avalanche safety course do on the third day.
They put everything into practice as they are put through the drill for an actual rescue, beginning with the organization of the rescue and right through to the actual rescue, digging a person out of the snow.
Even though the shovel is a simple piece of equipment and most Canadians have had more than ample opportunity to use one, the use of a shovel is an important part of the avalanche safety course, Leroy said.
“It’s not easy, the snow is packed hard, it’s not nice and fluffy,” Leroy, who has taken the course, said.
“You have to know how to dig a person out, safely.”
The cost of the course is $250. The Wells-Barkerville Snowmobile Club is offering two packages, $350 for two nights accommodation, meals and course registration, or $300 for meals and course registration. Members of the Wells-Barkerville Snowmobile Club receive a $25 discount.
The snowmobile club is offering the course for one very simple reason, Leroy said.
“We want people to be safe.”
For information call, 250-994-3224
Wells-Barkerville Club welcomes all sledders