Avalanche Terrain Ratings for Backcountry Touring in the Mountain
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Do I still need to read to the avalanche bulletin every day? Complex (Class 3) terrain demands a strong group with years of critical parkscanada.gc.ca Absolutely - terrain is only part of the picture. When the avalanche decision making experience in avalanche terrain. There can be no safe danger is “High”, you should select conservative terrain. Alternatively, options on these trips, forcing exposure to big slopes. A recommended when the danger is “Low”, this might be the time to consider that next minimum is that someone in your group should have taken an Avalanche Terrain Ratings level of terrain you have been contemplating. The two must be used Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 course, and has several years of together for understanding the big picture of how to manage your risk in backcountry experience. Be prepared! Check the avalanche forecast for backcountry touring in the the backcountry. Daily avalanche information is available at Park Visitor regularly, and ensure everyone in your group is up for the task and Centres, or at www.parksmountainsafety.ca aware of the risk. This is serious country - not a place to consider unless Mountain National Parks you’re condent in the skills of your group. If you are uncertain - When should I use this system? consider hiring a professional, ACMG certied guide. These ratings are intended to supplement pre-trip planning material. Disclaimer This means reading guidebooks, studying maps and photos, talking to There are inherent risks in backcountry travel, and most of the routes friends, checking weather and avalanche conditions, and referring to the described here will at times be unsafe due to potential snow ATES ratings while planning the trip. All of these resources together will avalanches. The Parks Canada Agency has done its best to provide give you a better sense of the route you are choosing. accurate information and to describe the terrain characteristics typical How do I use the scale? of each general region. However, it is up to the users of this information to learn the necessary skills for safe backcountry travel, access The list of rated trips represents the most common destinations in the additional trip planning materials, and to exercise caution while traveling Mountain National Parks. Don’t use this scale alone – you’ll need through the backcountry in any national park. additional material to learn about the trip you are proposing. The following guidebooks are recommended: Users of this information do so entirely at their own risk, and the Parks Fourth edition 1. Summits & Icefields, Columbia Mountains – by Chic Scott & Mark Klassen Canada Agency disclaims any liability for injury, injury resulting in death Grant Statham 2. Summits & Icefields, Canadian Rockies – by Chic Scott & Mark Klassen or damage to anyone undertaking a trip into any of the regions Avalanches are part of life in the mountains, an integral piece of the 3. Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies – by Chic Scott described. This information is no substitute for experience and good winter cycle. Anytime snow and steep slopes are combined, 4. Ski Touring in Rogers Pass – by J.P. Kors, John Kelly & Eric Dafoe judgment. avalanche potential results. If you wish to travel through backcountry These publications are widely available at local mountain specialty terrain that is exposed to avalanches, you must accept that you’re stores. For further information on specic trips visit any Parks Canada taking a risk. You need to understand these risks before taking them, information centre in the Mountain National Parks – or check with a local Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) and the information included here will help give you a better sense of professional guide service. the type of trip you are planning. Description Class Terrain Criteria How much experience do I need for these trips? The avalanche forecast provides ratings of avalanche danger that Simple (Class 1) terrain requires common sense, proper equipment, Exposure to low angle or primarily forested are based on the snowpack conditions, which change regularly with rst aid skills, and the discipline to respect avalanche warnings. Simple Simple 1 terrain. Some forest openings may involve the weather – from day to day, or even hour to hour. Terrain however, terrain is usually low avalanche risk, ideal for novices gaining the runout zones of infrequent avalanches. doesn’t change much. The angle and shape of the ground, or the backcountry experience. These trips may not be entirely free from Many options to reduce or eliminate number of established avalanche paths won’t vary from day to day. avalanche hazards, and on days when the avalanche danger is rated exposure. No glacier travel. By using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES), you can “High” or “Extreme”, you may want to re-think any backcountry travel begin to measure your skills, experience and risk tolerance against that has exposure to avalanches – stick to groomed x-country trails, or Exposure to well-dened avalanche paths, the landscapes through which you choose to travel. within the boundaries of a ski resort. Challenging 2 starting zones or terrain traps; options exist to reduce or eliminate exposure with careful Challenging (Class 2) terrain requires skills to recognize and avoid routending. Glacier travel is straightforward AVALANCHE TERRAIN RATINGS AND AVALANCHE avalanche prone terrain – big slopes exist on these trips. You must also but crevasse hazards may exist. FORECASTS MUST BE USED TOGETHER FOR EVALUATING know how to understand avalanche forecasts, perform avalanche self HAZARDS AND MANAGING PERSONAL RISK IN THE rescue, basic rst aid, and be condent in your routending skills. You Exposure to multiple overlapping avalanche BACKCOUNTRY. should take an Avalanche Skill Training Level 1 course before traveling in Complex 3 paths or large expanses of steep, open this type of terrain. If you are unsure of your own, or your group’s ability terrain; multiple avalanche starting zones and Également offert en français to navigate through avalanche terrain - consider hiring a professional, terrain traps below; minimal options to ACMG certied guide. reduce exposure. Complicated glacier travel with extensive crevasse bands or icefalls. SIMPLE – CLASS 1 Valley of the Five Lakes/Wabasso Lakes CHALLENGING – CLASS 2 Ottertail Valley Fire Road Peyto Glacier approach Illecillewaet Practice Slopes Whistlers campground loop Glacier National Park Plain of Six Glaciers trail Illecillewaet Neve access Banff National Park Banff National Park Avalanche Crest - to treeline Ptarmigan Peak Lily Glacier Kootenay National Park Cheops Glades Pulpit Peak area Lizards Tail Baker Creek Boom Lake Flat Creek valley trail Pumpkin Traverse Lookout Col Baker Creek powerline Chickadee Valley (valley bottom only) Bow hut to Balfour hut via Nic/Olive col Grizzly Shoulder Surprise Pass McGill Bowl - McGill Pass Bath Creek – 7 km from Hwy 1 Dog Lake Bow Summit area Hermit Meadows White Pyramid Mt. Rogers Bow Riverside loop Dolly Varden Castlegard Mt. McGill Shoulder Mt. Swanzy Cirque Peak Brewster Creek to Sundance Lodge East Kootenay Sifton Col Jasper National Park Mt. Tupper Traverse Bryant Creek Hector Gorge Crowfoot Pass The Hourglass NRC Gullies Athabasca Glacier past first icefall Cascade Fire Road Simpson River (to KNP boundary) Diablaret Glacier Perley Rock Mt. Revelstoke National Park Diadem Creek Cave and Basin trails West Kootenay Elk Lake Summit Sapphire Col Balsam Lake to Eva & Miller Lakes Mt. Columbia Fairview loop Forty Mile Creek Smart Ridge Balsam Lake to Mt Revelstoke Summit Mt. Kitchener Glacier Lake Yoho National Park Fossil Mountain loop Steps of Paradise – Youngs Pk Lindmark Trail above Parkway Intersection North Twin Goat Creek Gibbon Pass Terminal Peak Chancellor Peak Campground Summit Trail above 8 Mile Crossing Snow Dome Great Divide Trail Haiduk Lake via Shadow Lake The Cone Emerald Lake designated nordic trails Woolsey Creek Road South Twin Healy Creek – Sundance to SSV road Healy Creek – SSV to Healy Pass The Mouse Trap Johnston Creek to Inkpots Field to Emerald Lake nordic trail Hidden Bowl region Stutfield Peak Ice River fire road The Ravens Lake Louise shoreline trail Hilda Ridge Waterton Lakes National Park Ursus Major Kicking Horse trail Katherine/Helen Lake circuit Merlin Valley from Skoki Akamina Pass to Wall Lake Kootenay National Park Ursus Trees Lake O’Hara circuit (avoid the north shorline) Lake Louise resort backcountry accessed Minnewanka lakeshore Bertha Lake Chickadee Valley - above valley bottom Vaux Moraines/Sir Donald/Uto Col Lake O’Hara road to EP hut from ski area Morain Lake road trackset Forum Ridge Stanley Glacier Valley Vent Shaft slopes Morning Glory Lakes Mt. Gordon (YNP) Mosquito Creek to MO5 Lakeshore Storm Mt. Video Peak Ross Lake circuit Mt. Olive Natural Bridge from Skoki Summit Knob to Boundary Creek Tokkum Creek Youngs Pk via Illecillewaet Sherbrooke Lake (to lake only) Mt. Rhonda South Pharoah Creek Summit Knob to Cameron Lake Wapta Falls Mt. Thompson Pipestone trails Summit Lake Mt. Revelstoke National Park Redearth Creek Yoho Valley road trackset Observation subpeaks Yoho National Park Skoki via Boulder/Deception Passes Paradise Valley Emerald Pass Hamilton Creek Upper Meadows Glacier National Park Parker Ridge Emerald Peak/Slide Path Clachnacudain Creek Skoki via Pipestone River COMPLEX – CLASS 3 Spray River Trail Beaver River Peyto hut to Bow hut Isolated Col Clachnacudain Creek east fork Sulphur Mountain backside trail Rogers Pass ski hill (forest cuts behind hotel) Saskatchewan glacier Little Yoho Valley approach Saint Syr Creek Sulphur Mountain trail under gondola Wheeler Hut approach and vicinity Skoki Mountain loop Banff National Park Mt. Cathedral Coursier Creek Sundance Pass Sunshine to Healy Creek Balfour to Scott Duncan Huts Mt. Collie Woolsey Glacier- Coursier Peak Clachnacudain Glacier-Inverness Peaks Telemark trail Mt. Revelstoke National Park Sunshine Village backcountry accessed from Ball Pass Mt. Des Poilus Tower Lake ski area Bath Glacier exit to Hwy 1 Mt. Field Mount Klotz above treeline Tramline trail 2km & 5km loop trails West Nile Bonnet Icefield Mt.