building a warning system the backcountry avalanche advisory grant statham mountain risk specialist

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BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

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Page 1: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEMThe Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

Grant Statham

Mountain Risk Specialist

Page 2: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN

and the

Page 3: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Connaught Creek

February 1, 2003

Page 4: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Parks Canada’s Avalanche Risk Review

36 Recommendations

• Focus on communication

• Information more accessible

November 2004

Page 5: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist
Page 6: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

ALPINE

TREELINE

BELOW

TREELINE

Avalanche Danger Scale

15 OPTIONS

Page 7: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

SOCIETY UNDERSTANDS

This kind of comprehension was needed for avalanche danger

Page 8: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Frequency of highest danger rating for the CAA Public Avalanche Bulletin, all regions (Data 1994-2004, n=2035)

Low6%

Moderate33%

Considerable44%

High16%

Extreme1%

Page 9: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Canadian and Swiss recreational fatalities vs. Avalanche Danger rating

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Low Moderate Considerable High Extreme

Danger Scale rating

Per

cen

t o

f fa

tali

ties

Canadian fatalities

Swiss fatalities

n= 86 for Canadan= 248 for Switzerland

Page 10: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Version 1

• Mountain/Avalanche

• Action

• International symbols

• Warning colors

• Effective in B&W

Page 11: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Version 5

Page 12: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Spring Icon

Page 13: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Final Edition – Version 7

Page 14: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Text

Version 1

Page 15: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Headers and Footers

Page 16: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Unsuitable

PoorSuitable

Significant

Deteriorating

Moderate

Changing

Good

DifficultUnfavorable

Favorable

Challenging

Variable

Serious

Spring

Considerable

Amateur

UntrainedImportant

Acute

Crucial

Dangerous

Grave

Stable

Fair

SIGNAL WORDSMarginal

Page 17: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Public Focus Testing – 2 Rounds

• Calgary

• Golden

• Revelstoke

• Bow Valley

• Students

• Backcountry skiers

• Shop owners

• Ice Climbers

• Parents

• Snowmobilers

• People off the street

After a total of 15 versions . . .

Page 18: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

Avalanche

ConditionsTravel Advice Guidance for Amateur Recreation

GoodNormal Caution

Avalanches are infrequent but possible. Appropriate conditions for informed backcountry travel.

Serious

Extra CautionAvalanches will occur with human and other triggers. Avalanche training and experience are essential for safe backcountry travel.

Poor

Not RecommendedAvalanches are occurring frequently. Inappropriate conditions for backcountry travel without extensive avalanche training and experience.

Variable

Extra CautionConditions change from good with frozen snow to poor with melted snow. Avalanche training and experience are essential to monitor conditions for safe travel.

For more details: www.avalanche.ca or 1 800 667 1105 

Users of this information assume their own risk

Backcountry Avalanche Advisory

Page 19: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

LOW

MODERATE

CONSIDERABLE

HIGH

EXTREME

TRANSLATION FROM DANGER SCALE

Page 20: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

GOOD

Normal Caution 

Avalanches are infrequent but possible. Appropriate conditions for informed backcountry travel.

Page 21: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

SERIOUS

Extra Caution

 Avalanches will occur with human and other triggers. Avalanche training and experience are essential for safe backcountry travel.

Page 22: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

POOR

Not Recommended

 Avalanches are occurring frequently. Inappropriate conditions for backcountry travel without extensive avalanche training and

experience.

Page 23: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

VARIABLE

Extra Caution

 Conditions change from Good with frozen snow to Poor with melted snow. Avalanche training and experience are essential to monitor

conditions for safe travel.

Page 24: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

media portal

Page 25: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

www.avalanche.ca

Page 26: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

television

Page 27: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

newspaper

Page 28: BUILDING A WARNING SYSTEM The Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Grant Statham Mountain Risk Specialist

THANKYOU•Bruce Jamieson

•Karl Klassen

•William Leiss

•Chris Stethem

•Albi Sole

•David Jones

•Pascal Haegeli

•Gisele Danis

•Alan Jones

•Clair Israelson

•Mary Clayton

•Eugene Thomlinson

•John Kelly

•Lise Gautron

•Sylvain Hebert

•Marc Deschenes

•Dominique Boucher

•Stephane Gagnon

•Marc Ledwidge

•Kathy Rettie

•Rob Storeshaw

•CAA Technical Committee

•Bruce Tremper