The season's first significant rise in avalanche danger alerts us to the start of the avalanche season on Vancouver Island.
With the first significant rise in avalanche danger being forecast by the Vancouver Island Avalanche Centre for Thursday and through the weekend, the VIAC is reminding the mountain recreating public of the need to get avalanche education and to use the Vancouver Island Avalanche Bulletin.
Significant precipitation and increasingly strong wind will raise the avalanche danger in the alpine on Vancouver Island to high before the weekend. Continued precipitation and strong winds through the weekend will keep danger levels up.
The public is advised to check the avalanche bulletin at www.islandavalanchebulletin.com and to follow the advice given there.
In addition, avalanche eduction will greatly enhance a person's ability to understand and use the bulletin and to make safer decisions about travel in the backcountry in winter.
For further information, contact the forecaster on duty at 250-897-2990 or by e-mail at forecaster@islandavalanchebulletin.com.
— Vancouver Island Avalanche Centre