While the rescuers were preparing to sling out the snowshoer — in full winter conditions, as Danks described it — they watched as people walked past them in running shoes. Danks termed what rescuers have seen on the North Shore mountains this year “alarming.”
Most importantly, Danks said he wants people — and particularly those new to outdoors pursuits — to know how to reduce their exposure to potential avalanches. Danks offered the example of the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail from the trailhead at Cypress Bowl: “Within the first hour you’re crossing several avalanche slopes right off the bat. You need to be very aware of that and I think a lot of people for a long period of time have gotten really lucky because they’ve navigated through those slopes completely unaware.”
“Be prepared. Make sure that you have enough clothing to keep you warm overnight, to the minimum level, to survive,” he said.resh snow from a series of storms had brought the snowpack in many parts of the province to a “tipping point” last week where large avalanches could easily be triggered.