MyWestworld

The Kootenays: Avalanche!

Posted on 19. Nov, 2009 by Dave Quinn in BC

By Dave Quinn

In hindsight, a sudden, low “whumph” should have been my first warning that I was about to be buried in an avalanche. Yet all I really remember is arcing my skis toward safe terrain in the trees – as, instead of slowing, I, and the entire snowslope around me accelerated – over the lip toward the steep terrain and trees below.

No way . . . 

Yep. Avalanche.

Get to the trees on the right. No – moving too fast! Trees at this speed mean a broken femur or worse. Avoid the trees!  Get left – away from the trees! Dig in! Slow down!

Snap! One ski releases. Head over heels. Again, and again.

Boot heels, fingers, elbows scrabbling into hard surface below. Got to slow down! Light. Dark. Mouth full of snow. Gasp . . . breath of air.

Fight! Dig in! I am not going to die in an avalanche.

Finally slowing.

Sudden stop.

Silence.

I laugh. Scream. Bawl. All that adrenaline has to go somewhere. I’m OK –minus a ski, poles, goggles and hat, but OK.

After nearly 20 years of skiing, including more than a decade teaching avalanche awareness courses, the mountains sent me a warning, a shot over the bow. But I was lucky – I skied away from it.

But last year, 26 people in Canada alone were not so lucky, including an unprecedented 19 snowmobilers who lost their lives to avalanches.

But the good news –

This weekend in Fernie, anyone can learn how to safely experience the backcountry – on skis, snowshoe or a sled – at the Canadian Avalanche Centre and Columbia Brewery’s (of Kokanee Beer fame) annual public Backcountry Avalanche Workshop. 

• When: Saturday, November 21
• Where: The Arts Station, downtown Fernie
• Coordinates: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cost: $20 registration fee, payable at the doo
• For more info on this and other backcountry avalanche awareness aorkshops throughout the province:  http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/events/backcountry-avalanche-workshops

I’ll see you there, in the mountains – and, most important, at the bar for a Kokanee at the end of another safe backcountry day.

Photos: Dave Quinn

Tags: avalanche safety, B.C., backcountry skiing, Fernie