Where to Find the Ice Climbing Avalanche Atlas
An optional layer can now be added to the Avalanche Canada conditions map to quickly access current information
The Canadian Rockies have some of the world’s best and most famous waterfall ice climbs, but most of them are in areas threatened by potentially deadly avalanches. The Ice Climbing Atlas Project is a collaboration between Avalanche Canada, veteran winter climber and guide Sarah Hueniken, and Grant Statham, a visitor safety specialist in Banff National Park.
Observations are collected through surveys done online over fixed periods of time. The results are published here along with detailed analysis and images showing where avalanche threats exist. “Our hope is that by sharing historical data, climbers can better understand the avalanche hazard that exists on these popular climbs,” the project notes. “We strongly encourage all ice climbers to always carry avalanche safety gear—transceiver, probe, and shovel.”
Where to find the Avalanche Atlas: Avalanche Canada just added it their main avalanche conditions map, which Statham has apploauded, saying, “This is awesome because now it’s easy to find, and in the same spot as all the other avalanche information you need to go ice climbing.” See Statham’s example below.
For an interview with Statham on why ice climbers should always carry avalanche gear when in avalanche terrain, visit here. You can also upload observations from your day in the mountains here. And be sure to check the Ice Climbing Atlas here to learn more about some of the Rockies most popular ice climbs.
Avalanche on Bourgeau Left in Banff
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