COC Coordinator Manual

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Completing Your Event 		Avalanche Safety Policy

Table of Contents
    Scope
    Background
    Definitions
    Policy
    Communication

Effective: March 28, 2010
Last Revision Date: March 28, 2010

This policy is subject to change at the discretion of the Executive.

Scope

This policy applies to all participants on Calgary Outdoor Club events in the mountains between November 1st and May 31st.
The policy does not apply to member calendar postings.

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Background

The COC Avalanche Safety Policy is based on:
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Definitions

Avalanche Terrain Ratings & Descriptions:

Class

Terrain

1
Simple

 Exposure to low angle or primarily forested terrain. Some forest openings may involve the run out zones of infrequent avalanches. Many options to reduce or eliminate exposure. No glacier travel.

2
Challenging

 Exposure to well defined avalanche paths, starting zones or terrain traps; options exist to reduce or eliminate exposure with careful route finding. Glacier travel is straightforward but crevasse hazard may exist.

3
Complex
(Out of Scope)

 Exposure to multiple overlapping avalanche paths or large expanses of steep, open terrain; multiple avalanche starting zones or terrain traps below; minimal options to reduce exposure. Complicated glacier travel with extensive crevasse bands or icefalls.

Source:  Canadian Avalanche Centre (www.avalanche.ca)

Danger Level Probability and Trigger Recommended Action
Low Natural avalanches very unlikely.
Human triggered avalanches unlikely.		 Travel is generally safe.
Normal caution advised.
Moderate Natural avalanches unlikely.
Human triggered avalanches possible.		 Use caution in steeper terrain on certain aspects.
Considerable Natural avalanches possible.
Human triggered avalanches probable.		 Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain.
High
(Out of Scope)		 Natural and human triggered avalanches likely. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
Extreme
(Out of Scope)		 Widespread natural or human triggered avalanches certain. Travel in avalanche terrain should be avoided and confined to low angle terrain, well away from avalanche path run outs.

Source:  Canadian Avalanche Centre (www.avalanche.ca)

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Policy
  1. The event description must state in bold, red font if the event route passes through avalanche terrain or it is possible that the route will pass through avalanche terrain (when taking unofficial routes, bushwhacking or route-finding).

  2. ALL participants must check the weather and Public Avalanche Bulletin the day of the event.

  3. NO EVENTS ALLOWED IN CHALLENGING (CLASS 2) OR COMPLEX (CLASS 3) TERRAIN regardless of the conditions

  4. NO EVENTS ALLOWED IN UNRATED TERRAIN (i.e. routes not listed in the Parks/Kananaskis Avalanche Terrain Ratings) except if satisfying ALL of the following conditions:
    • The trail is in the frontranges, as defined in guidlines below
    • The Event Coordinator has information of dry terrain, or snow below boot-level
    • The Event Coordinator will turn back at any point if there is more snow than advertised

  5. GUIDELINES FOR EVENTS IN SIMPLE (CLASS 1) TERRAIN:

    • Minimum group size: 4, Maximum group size: 15
    • This type of event includes official X-C ski and snowshoe trails, backcountry trips rated as Simple (Class 1) on the Avalanche Terrain Ratings Scale.
    • Class 1 Trips in National Parks available at http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/inc/PM-MP/visit/visit7a1_e.pdf.
      NOTE: The terrain past the end of the track set on Moraine Lake Road is avalanche terrain and is strictly forbidden for COC events posted as a cross-country ski event in Simple Terrain.
    • Class 1 Trips in Kananaskis available at www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/pdfs/ATES/ATES_Grid_List_Ski.pdf
      NOTE: Winter trips are not permitted to Galatea Creek because the trail is closed in the winter and has high risk of avalanches off the side of Mount Kidd.
    • If the avalanche risk is "High" or "Extreme" at any elevation (below treeline, treeline, or alpine) the day(s) of the event, the event must be cancelled or moved to a lower-risk location.The coordinator should always have a back up location in the event that conditions are no longer safe.
      EXCEPTION: Events on machine-groomed trails may go ahead in any conditions:

  6. GUIDELINES FOR EVENTS IN UNRATED FRONT-RANGE TERRAIN:

    • Minimum group size: 4, Maximum group size: 15
    • This type of event includes unrated trips found in the following areas:
      • the Bow River Valley, east of Banff townsite
      • the Spray River Valley, north of (and including) Whiteman's Gap
      • the EASTERN side of the Kananaskis Valley, north of Fortress Junction
      • the Elbow River Valley, east of the winter gate
      • the Sheep River Valley, east of the winter gate
      • the Highwood River Valley, up to the winter gate at Highwood House, and Highway 940 south to the winter gate at Cataract Creek
         
    • There must be sufficiently low snow on the route as to pose no avalanche danger (ie. below boot-height)
    • The coordinator must identify the source of their condition information in the event considerations
    • The coordinator must TURN BACK if there is any more snow than expected on or directly above the route, or if any participant feels uncomfortable with the risk.
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Communication:

All event coordinators are required to follow our avalanche safety policy when posting mountain events during avalanche season (typically November through May). There are a few folks who need to know, though, what it is you've done and what you're doing with regards to following the policy. It's great if you're following the policy in your head, the Event Review Team will be checking to make sure you're following the policy correctly. So, to that end, we require a bit of communication from you so we all know you're doing your job properly. All events going into mountain country during avalanche season must include this communication - even the "exempt" ones - please see below.

When posting an event which goes into mountain country during avalanche season, please include a "Winter Safety Considerations" section in the "Notes" area of the event.

The "Winter Safety Considerations" block must include the following components:
- The name (of the person who did the research and entered the information) and date that research was completed
- The classification of the highest-rated terrain on the event
- Conditions as of the time of the research
- Plan for avalanche risk management

Please use (copy and paste) either one of the following HTML templates (a or b) provided below. Please do not revise these templates in any way.

a) For events that are considered to be impacted by avalanche conditions:
Here is the HTML template to be used for the "Winter Safety Considerations" block which you can copy/paste into your events. When copying an event, please be sure to update it with current information.

<br /><br /><font class="warning">Winter Safety Considerations</font><br />
<br />Entered by *name* on *date*<br />
<br />Terrain Classification: *insert classification of your event's terrain*<br />
<br />Conditions: *insert the highest avalanche rating (with zone) for your chosen area at the time of your research*<br />
<br />Plan: *insert your plan, including what you'll do to follow up on conditions on the day of your event, and what you'll do with regards to managing the event*<br />
<br />Note that COC event coordinators are volunteers and are not trained guides. All participants are responsible for assessing the current road conditions, current weather conditions, current trail conditions and current avalanche conditions for the trip.<br /><br />

b) For events that are not considered to be impacted by avalanche conditions, these include:
   a) Groomed x-c ski routes
   b) Downhill Ski Events (at Downhill Ski Resorts)
   c) Official snow shoe trails

For these events, please include a due diligence block as follows:

<br /><br /><font class="warning">Winter Safety Considerations</font><br />
<br />Entered by *name* on *date*<br />
<br />Terrain Classification: This event is exempted from avalanche planning because it is on *insert one of the three acceptable reasons above*<br />
<br />Note that COC event coordinators are volunteers and are not trained guides. All participants are responsible for assessing the current road conditions, current weather conditions, current trail conditions and current avalanche conditions for the trip.<br /><br />

In the code blocks above replace the *whatever text* with just the desired text, i.e. *name* would be replaced with "John Doe" (without the quotes)

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