Icy conditions in the backcountry prompt warning

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The sunshine may motivate you to get outside, but it’s also prompting a warning about icy backcountry conditions.

North Shore Rescue‘s Tim Jones tells News1130 the cold overnight temperatures have helped to create some very tricky conditions.

“Anything that’s not in the direct sunlight and not exposed to the sun today is probably going to be very hard-packed, if not icy,” explains Jones.

“We really want to emphasize to anyone who is going to the backcounty, if they are in shaded areas, they will need the appropriate gear. That means having crampons and an ice axe,” adds Jones. “That applies also to people who are hiking in the upper, front-side trails on Grouse and other areas that may be shaded by the tree canopy.”

As we approach summertime, resources that are available during the winter months will start to decrease.

“Resort operations start to pare down because the ski season is shutting down. People need to be aware that it will be still winter conditions up on the local mountains. But the ski season will come to an end and with that, we won’t have the robust support that we normally get from the mountains. We have to make our own contingency plans, but that hasn’t happen yet.”

Jones also confirms the avalanche warning for the North Shore is low this weekend.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today