Item: The North Rockies Mountain Snowmobilers in the Absence of a Daily Public Avalanche Bulletin
-
-
Title: The North Rockies Mountain Snowmobilers in the Absence of a Daily Public Avalanche Bulletin
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Andrew J. Duncan [ Royal Roads University, Victoria,, BC, Canada ]
- Iain Stewart-Patterson [ Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: British Columbia's mountainous topography and weather makes it a rewarding region for winter backcountry travel. Studies acknowledge that less is known about snowmobilers as a user group, or of their attitudes toward avalanche safety compared to skiers. A particular challenge in BC?s north is a lack of frequent, spatially explicit public avalanche forecasting. The purpose of this research is to describe the attitudes and safety habits of mountain snowmobilers in Northern British Columbia (BC), and to determine their backcountry travel habits, decision strategies and use of the current forecasting service when compared to other data rich regions within BC. Survey data was collected in 2016 from 282 active snowmobile users across the North Rockies. Participants were asked information regarding their level of avalanche training, use of safety equipment and use of the public forecasting service. These results were compared to similar data previously published for the Pacific Northwest.
Object ID: ISSW16_P3.50.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: avalanche bulletins, North Rockies, snowmobilers, avalanche risk culture, public safety
Page Number(s): 1134-1141
Subjects: safety snowmobilers avalanche bulletins
-