Return of La Nina! / Good for BC Riders

The weather gurus predicted we had a 71% chance that we would experience a La Nina weather system this season. This shift can alter weather patterns, creating a northwest flow that funnels cold, moisture-laden air from the Pacific Ocean into BC, perhaps lots of snow for us to enjoy. For a detailed explanation of this winter’s La Nina forecast and how it might affect conditions in BC, visit OpenSnow, written by meteorologist Alan Smith.

As we move through January, it is worth doing a quick summary of the snowpack in the alpine and around the province. A couple of avalanche incidents were reported earlier. Avalanche Canada started their regular forecasts on November 21^st at 4:00 PM PST. Check your local forecast and any MIN (Mountain Information Network) reports that refer to the area around your riding destination.

It's always a good time to inspect your gear; double-check that your transceiver is functioning properly. Industry professionals continually work on their companion rescue skills. Do some drills with your touring partners. Is your tape, glue, spare batteries, etc., and other gear in your pack all functioning as expected? When was the last time you re-glued your skin? Waxed your board or skis?

We are fortunate in Canada to have many resources, such as detailed weather forecasts, at our fingertips. Some of my go-to's are Windy.com and YR.NO, but DriveBC highway forecasts can also provide important information. You may consider taking an avalanche course or a refresher with a local provider.

Be well prepared if you plan to head out into the backcountry. Understand what the avalanche danger ratings mean, particularly High – “natural avalanches are likely, human-triggered avalanches are very likely,” Considerable – “natural avalanches are possible, human-triggered avalanches are likely” and Moderate – “natural avalanches unlikely, human-triggered avalanches possible.”

In the spirit of safety, let's stay informed, communicate effectively, and adapt our plans accordingly. Winter's challenges are part of the adventure, and with a thoughtful approach, we can continue to enjoy our alpine environment while managing risks. Here's to making smart decisions, respecting the backcountry and its residents, and ensuring an enjoyable, memorable and safe winter season. Please remember to recreate responsibly and ask others to do the same.

Take good care.

Brad Harrison
Executive Director, BLBCA
ed@blbca.com

The Story of One of the Most Important Inventions in Ski Touring History 

I attached Alpine Trekkers to my downhill skis the first time I went ski touring and clicked in with my clunky Alpine boots. It was 1997, and I was probably lifting more than 10 pounds of gear with each stride. I was also young, fit and ignorant enough to think the system was amazing. Until one day, a Swiss mountain guide using Dynafit touring bindings left me dragging a mile behind him.

I can still picture those bindings. They don’t look that different than the ones on my skis today or the first pin binding introduced in 1984, as such “Low-Tech” bindings are unique among outdoor gear.

Besides the two wheels, today’s mountain bikes share little with the early off-road rigs of 40 years ago. Backpacks have gone from exterior aluminum frames to internal suspension systems. And while skis still have a tip and tail, everything in between has changed.

Meanwhile, the pincer toe, U-pin and boxy heels of today’s tech bindings are obviously descendants of the binding Fritz Barthel invented four decades ago.

“Laziness is the mother of invention,” says Barthel...

Year of the Glacier

The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. Let’s face it: it’s a hopeful declaration. Between about 100,000 and 11,000 years ago, most of North America was frozen beneath ice three kilometres thick in places. Known as the Wisconsin glaciation, it was the last major ice age to grip the northern hemisphere. Time must have practically stood still in this virtually lifeless landscape. It’s no wonder that humans would adopt the word “glacial” as a metaphor for things that move ponderously slowly.

However, that metaphor is melting. The glaciers we know are vestiges of ancient geological history, rapidly leaving the ice age. Human-caused climate change is accelerating this exit. Unless we can limit global warming to a few more tenths of a degree, we’ll lose two-thirds of the world’s remaining glaciers by 2100.

Helm Glacier is one of them. Nestled on the north face of Gentian Peak, near Garibaldi Lake, the Helm has been studied more than almost any other glacier in southwestern BC. Federal government scientists started taking measurements there in the 1960s when it covered an area of around 4 square kilometres. Today, it covers just a square kilometre, and it’s not long for this world, says Mark Ednie, a geologist with the Geological Survey of Canada.

The Helm is one of dozens that Ednie monitors in the Western Cordillera of Canada, from the Rockies to the Coast Range. He visits all of them twice a year: once in the spring to measure snow depth and snow density and once in late summer to measure ice melt. Combine these two measurements, and you get something called “mass balance,” a metric that describes whether a glacier is growing or shrinking...

Benefits of Joining the BLBCA

We have revamped our membership program, check out the new opportunities. For you, and generations of adventurers to follow, we need you with us. Supporting the BLBCA is the perfect way for you to help us move the needle on a number of long-standing challenges.

The BLBCA encourages responsible recreation on BC’s inimitable land and water on behalf of visitors and backcountry travelers just like you. Utilizing the strength of our diverse network of lodge operators, we inform decision-makers on the socio-economic benefit that backcountry recreation provides to residents and visitors alike. Take a minute to read our latest blog.

Share your backcountry adventures, tag photos with:
#myBCbackcountry | #exploreBC

Our members operate in many First Nations' traditional and unceded territories, including the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc, Syilx, and Stoney Nakoda Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in these territories and recognize that these are special places.