Winter Safety in the Mountains
What a winter it’s been so far! Dump after dump of snow, warmer-than-usual weather, and blue skies mean it’s time to get outside and enjoy everything the mountains have to offer. But playing outside in winter comes with its own set of risks. That’s why the annual Winter Safety Day, hosted by Alberta Parks and Friends of Kananaskis Country, was such a great event to bring awareness to the realities of the season and how you can have fun outside this winter.
Attending the event were various experts including Kananaskis Emergency Services, Foothills Search and Rescue, Calgary Search and Rescue, Alberta Parks, Friends of Kananaskis Country, and more. The overall message revolved around how to enjoy the mountains this winter, although the messaging reached beyond the peaks to include outdoor urban pursuits.
One of the highlights of the event was Huck, a 2-year-old border collie who was recently certified as an avalanche rescue dog. This canine superhero showed off his search and rescue skills while his handler, Sarah Royce, discussed what it takes to train an avi dog, as well as what it takes to do the job. They were both happy to pose for photos and answer questions at the event.
Bow Valley WildSmart had lots of information about wildlife in the winter while the University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Institute had animal tracks so people could learn about what they might spot in the snow.
Groups like Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre were also there to teach kids hands-on skills such as starting a fire to stay warm. Other experiences included using a beacon and transceiver to find someone trapped in the snow, learning about different winter gear such as snowshoes and fat bikes, and enjoying a free hot dog.
If you’re looking to spend time in the mountains this winter, there are some great resources to check out. We wrote an article years ago about avalanche risk. You can look at avalanche.ca to see the latest conditions, and read safety information from reputable sources like Alberta Parks and Parks Canada. Friends of Kananaskis Country has a lot of great resources compiled with the help of Kananaskis Mountain Rescue.
Annual events like Winter Safety Day are a great reminder to brush up on our skills and learn something new. Let’s all have fun playing in the mountains this winter but remember to play it safe so we can do it again tomorrow.
