Mar 12/14 - Please Review the Forecasters Blog

Hi Crew, here is the photo of the slide that comes down - down the Flathead. True to current warnings it let go right from the top and is wet and took a few extra full grown trees with it. Curt groomed through the debis. Packhorse comes down too and adjacent to it will be weak so I would be weary trail riding down there. Watch above you and take a look before you end up in a tight no exit spot anywhere. We have a group here that got a report from one group that was riding Fernie area over the wet weekend last weekend and they said don't go and another group told them that they just picked really super conservative terrain, took their time everywhere and had a good weekend. So its up to you to decide what kind of riders and people are in your group. Are they a group that will be satisfied taking it very slow and being methodical in their riding and decision making or do you have guys that will crack and want to take risks that could put the entire group in jeapordy right now? For some people, riding this weekend will be ok and for others it will be best to just skip it. That's ok just be honest about it. Please go to www.avalanche.ca and go to the Forecasters blog. It will show Coal Creek Road that had three avalanches within a few kms of the staging area come down on Sunday with all that rain (we got alot of rain here too in the afternoon Sunday). Two crossed the trail and the video and photos are on the blog along with some head shaking forecasters who have never seen that occur in that area. Honestly I was amazed. I kinda felt like ....now what? I don't know what to tell you. My "go to" of Rolling Hills at the very least is now in doubt. I urge you to be very careful, be very informed. You must have equipment and know full well how to use it but believe me, its the last thing you want to have to do...use it that is. Check out the Trip Planner on the www.avalanche.ca website and know how to use your avulator because the bulletin works best hand in hand with the avulator and knowing what type of terrain you are riding. Is it treeline but with complex or simple terrain features? Our trail has a sidehill cut out that has never slid, that we have watched carefully and been respectful about it but right now its feels like a dog that has never bit me but has shown me he might. Right now I don't trust even that section. The drainage in Limestone that has never slid or given us the slightest indication that it might now puts doubt in my mind. If it went there would be no escape route. If it was ever to let go....now would be the time I think. So again, to my guests, if you wish to cancel given the highly unusual conditions right now, I will not hold you to a cancellation fee. There's always next winter (or this summer/fall if you quad/dirtbike/side by side/hunt or fish). Be careful and enjoy the outdoors however you get outside these days! Cheers - V