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Avalanche Near Miss Prompts Fresh Warnings
Avalanche Near Miss Prompts Fresh Warnings
Recent events in the Remarkables
Range have highlighted the risks of winter backcountry use.
The Mountain Safety Council is keen to remind those going
into unpatrolled terrain to check the conditions carefully.
Chief Executive Mike Daisley is concerned the
well-documented conditions will persist through the
season.
"We've got a very tricky situation in
the snowpack throughout the country."
"Early in the season, we had a period of warmer weather right after a good snowfall. This crusty layer is now buried and is creating unstable conditions."
The avalanche in the backcountry of the Remarkables on Monday afternoon was the sort of thing forecasters of the NZ Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) run by the Mountain Safety Council have been concerned about for weeks said, Daisley.
"Our guys are
telling us that this is a 'persistent weak layer' that is
likely to be with us for much of the season."
While there
are concerns about the conditions, Daisley is clear that
backcountry participation should not be discouraged.
"We're really keen to see people explore the wilderness areas of New Zealand in an informed way."
"Reports
suggest the group had transceivers and were doing the line
one at a time which is great to hear."
More information
on the conditions around the country via the NZ
Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) - avalanche.net.nz
- ENDS
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