Question

You are in Vancouver, and it is the day before you have planned to start a 5-day backcountry traverse of the Wapta Icefields in the Canadian Rockies. It's late February and you have a week's vacation for the trip. The traverse itself largely involves low-angle slopes, but you plan to do multiple side trips onto steeper slopes on adjacent mountains. You need to make a decision based on weather and snow/avalanche conditions. What should you do?

1) Cancel the trip and reschedule for a later date
2) Proceed with the trip as planned
3) Modify the itinerary to avoid the steeper slopes
4) Seek guidance from local authorities or experienced mountaineers

Answer 1

To decide on proceeding with a backcountry traverse of the Wapta Icefields, seek guidance from local authorities or experienced mountaineers, consider modifying the itinerary to avoid steep slopes, or cancel the trip if conditions are dangerously unfavorable for safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you are in Vancouver and planning a 5-day backcountry traverse of the Wapta Icefields in the Canadian Rockies during late February, it's crucial to consider weather and snow/avalanche conditions to make an informed decision for your trip. A prudent approach would be to seek guidance from local authorities or experienced mountaineers regarding current conditions to evaluate the risks associated with avalanche potential.

Given the information, the steep slopes planned for side trips pose an increased level of risk. If the local guidance and conditions suggest potential dangers, it would be wise to consider modifying the itinerary to avoid the steeper slopes, thereby reducing risks without canceling the trip outright. In conditions of high risk, one should not hesitate to reschedule the trip to a safer time. Always take survival essentials like plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, a cell phone, and an emergency first aid kit, and start with smaller, less risky trips if you are less experienced.

However, if conditions are prohibitively dangerous, it would be best to cancel the trip for the time being, as risking safety is not worth the potential consequences, including getting caught in an avalanche.