Our hearts go out to loved ones of the 28-year-old woman who died on Saturday, after slipping down an icy slope on Mount Seymour. We also hope for the recovery of 18-year-old Carson Storey, who suffered a life-altering brain injury while trying to retrieve a friend’s lost ski near Cypress Mountain Resort last week.
Snow-capped peaks and warm, sunny weather is an understandably alluring combination for many in our mountain-loving region. But the mixed and highly variable conditions of shoulder season are also a recipe for danger.
In the case of the deadly incident on Seymour, what was slushy footing for a pair of campers the day before had transformed into slick, icy slopes overnight. Acceleration down steep, hard snow is akin to falling out of an airplane, rescuers said.
Similarly, the Cypress ski hill is a spring slush paradise for skiers and riders, but the north face just out of bounds remains extremely icy. Just a week ago, North Shore Rescue was called to the area four times in two days.
While there are many joys to be found as our climate shrugs off its wintry cloak, we urge you to equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to navigate this season between seasons.
That could mean packing crampons, an ice axe and micro-spikes on a hiking trip into the snow. Mountain-goers should also be following weather reports to track freezing levels, which can quickly alter the snowpack.
But even the best-prepared alpinists can find themselves in a bad spot. Defrost your wallet during the next North Shore Rescue fundraiser, if you can.
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