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Warm weather brings avalanches, breaking snow: rescue group warns

North Shore Rescue posted concerning photos of a group of snowshoers on thick snow cornice
web1_20170518-KCN-M-HikeNorthShoreWarning

North Shore Rescue is warning hikers to be aware of breaking snow cornices on mountain tops due to warming weather.

Temperatures have been rising in the Lower Mainland, but snow still remains on trails that reach higher elevations.

North Shore Rescue took to Facebook Wednesday after drone photos were posted to a popular online hiking forum, showing a group of snowshoers close to an edge on an overhanging chunk of snow – called a cornice – at the top of Strachan Mountain.

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“If this cornice had broken, it would have taken the people standing on top down with it,” North Shore Rescue wrote.

The search and rescue group warned hikers to be cautious while hiking over Victoria Day long weekend, when forecasters are expecting warmer weather to arrive that could cause wide spread wet snow avalanches.

“Extreme caution shoud be used.”


@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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