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SAFETY FIRST 鈥� Six signs were installed at common winter access points to White Pass and Haines Pass.
Mountain passes get avalanche signage
The Yukon Avalanche Association has been working with the Youth Achievement Centre to construct and install signage for avalanche terrain in White Pass and Haines Pass.
The Yukon Avalanche Association has been working with the Youth Achievement Centre to construct and install signage for avalanche terrain in White Pass and Haines Pass.
Six signs were installed at common winter access points along the highways in these two mountain passes in June.
The signs are designed to improve public safety for winter users including snowmobilers and skiers. They indicate where hazards exist by classifying terrain as simple, challenging or complex with the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale.
Avalanche safety messages at trailheads will assist backcountry users in decision making and route planning.
"Our goal is to promote avalanche safety for the whole community so everyone comes home at the end of the day,鈥� said YAA board member Sean Cox.
This project is made possible thanks to funds from Yukon Community Development Fund, Federal New Initiative Funding through the Search and Rescue Secretariat, a generous donation from the family of Lennie Watkins, local in-kind support and with cooperation from the Yukon Department of Highways.
Land managers including BC Parks, BC Trails and Rec Sites, Parks Canada, Yukon Parks, and local First Nations have collaborated on the project design and delivery.
YAA Project Manager Jeni Rudisill said: "The YAA has worked on this project through the winter, but sign installation waited until after snowmelt. It has been very rewarding working with the Youth Achievement Centre to see these signs go up 鈥� this hard working construction crew has really impressed us.鈥�
The YAA will launch the Avalanche Terrain Project this winter through distribution of free brochures with maps for these areas and online trip planning information.
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Comments (2)
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withheld on Jul 17, 2013 at 7:08 am
I think this is an excellent collaborative effort. Good for YAA and the youth and staff at YAC to build these and erect them.
However, one of the signs on the right hand side of the road at a pull out about 2 kms from the US/Canadian actual border, this sign is in a parking spot very rarely used during the winter, if ever. I have only seen a few vehicles there during Easter but otherwise never 1 vehicle over the winter.
I suggest either speaking with snowmobiliers/backcountry skiers and asking highest traffic parking area or go take a look on any given weekend and see where cars park.
Not only is the location at a low/nil volume parking lot but the angle of the sign is not visible from the road, so sign is pointless.
I do like the idea behind this though
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Ken Gilmar on Jul 16, 2013 at 9:14 am
Due to the lack of communication by,The Yukon Avalanche Assoc., with the Road Foreman the sign at "The Green Shack" on the Haines Road has been erected in the path of snow removal.