Off-trail snowmobiling has become very popular. There are some beautiful places to do it in Quebec, such as Monts Valin and the Chic-Chocs. But last year saw the arrival of a new threat to mountain safety. Avalanches are a phenomenon known mainly in the mountains of western Canada. Last winter, however, it claimed the lives of three people on the Gaspé Peninsula. They were snowbike riders, motorcycles with a caterpillar track. They’re not snowmobiles, but the risks and triggers are identical. All off-piste snowmobilers should be well-informed about avalanche prevention. It’s also a good idea to have a few first-aid items on hand, so you can be detected and act more quickly after being buried in the snow.
The accident
On March 26, 2024, an avalanche claimed the lives of three snowbike riders who were off-trail in the Chic-Chocs mountains. The avalanche was accidentally triggered by one of the group members in the La Martre valley area. The victims are thirty-somethings from the Eastern Townships. Avalanche Canada’s official press release stated: “ A group of 4 people on motorcycles (snowbikes) accidentally triggered an avalanche of a slab of wet snow, size 2.5, in the La Martre Valley region. The avalanche crown was 100 cm deep, 150 m wide, the flow area 100 m long, and the slope varied between 37° and 40°.
Three members of the group were completely buried in a natural trap (depression). The accident occurred in the afternoon, and emergency services were called shortly afterwards. The rescue was handled by the fire department and the Sureté du Québec. The three victims were not wearing avalanche safety equipment. Recco technology and random probing were used to find the three victims. They were found at different depths: 1.40 m, 1.10 m, 2.80 m. They were freed between 9 and 11 p.m. and taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to Dominique Boucher, Director of Avalanche Québec, between 30 and 50 cm of snow had fallen in the area in recent days. An avalanche warning for the area had been published over the weekend on its Facebook account and website.
Resources
Three deaths in Quebec is too many. The number of fatalities in Canada is 12 for the 2023/2024 winter season. The other accidents occurred in British Columbia and Alberta. It is now essential not to overlook this natural phenomenon and to take the necessary measures to limit the risk of accidents.
Two websites provide important information on the subject.
Avalanche Canada
This NGO’s mission is to provide information on all aspects of avalanches. Its website provides daily avalanche forecast bulletins for Canadian mountain regions. It offers training programs and information to raise public awareness of avalanche risks.
A mobile application and interactive maps enable real-time monitoring of conditions in Quebec and across Canada. Resources are available for instructors and mountain professionals.
Every snowmobiler in the field can fill out an Express Information Report to quickly share information about their trip in the event of a risk. The report can include details of the avalanche, the snowpack, the weather and a possible incident.
https://avalanche.ca/fr/mountain-information-network/submit
Avalanche Québec
This website covers eastern Canada. It contains daily forecast bulletins from December1 to April 30 for the Chic-Chocs or Monts Valin.
A hazardous terrain trip planner helps you plan a safe itinerary.
Every winter, several avalanche safety, search and rescue and weather courses are offered to the general public and professionals.
The site is packed with information and awareness capsules, and an application has been created for planning backcountry ski outings in the Gaspé. It includes route descriptions, avalanche bulletins, weather conditions and the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
A tab provides access to Avalanche Canada’s express report, informing you of hazards encountered in the field.
Useful tips
Take an Avalanche course
Avalanche Québec and Adrénaline Hors-Piste offer the CSA 1 avalanche safety course, snowmobile profile, in the Chics-Chocs. This beginner-level course helps prepare you to choose your route and travel safely. More advanced courses are also available.
Read a specialized book
The Avalanche Safety Course Manual – snowmobile version, applies to snowmobilers who travel in avalanche terrain. Among other things, it explains how an avalanche is triggered, how to assess the terrain, good travel practices and rescue techniques.
Also, Passion Motoneige devoted an article (in French) to preparing an off-trail trip in British Columbia. It’s packed with good information for practice in Quebec.
https://www.passionmotoneige.com/comment-se-preparer-pour-la-colombie-britanique
Get informed before you leave
Check avalanche bulletins on one of the two Avalanche websites. Check the forecast for snowfall, which can increase the risk. Download an app to keep yourself informed of conditions throughout the day. Get advice from mountain guides and regulars if you meet any.
The North American Public Avalanche Risk Scale is a system that rates avalanche danger in terms of probability, size and distribution. It comprises five levels of risk, from lowest to highest: low, moderate, considerable, high and extreme. In Avalanche Canada’s forecasts, the risk level is calculated for alpine zones, the tree line and the lower limit.
Equip yourself to foresee and rescue
The Recco transmitter can be installed in snowmobile clothing. Most major clothing brands, including Ski-Doo, offer clothing with pockets specially designed to accommodate it. The detector emits a continuous, directional radio signal. In the event of an avalanche, rescuers and people equipped with receivers can quickly locate the person buried under the snow. Signal intensity increases with proximity to the transmitter.
An avalanche transceiver is an electronic device that you carry with you. To be effective, each member of the group must carry one. It emits a signal in the event of an avalanche. The avalanche transceiver is used in reception mode to locate the source of the signal and find the buried person.
The two devices complement each other.
RECCO detectors require special equipment to be used by the rescue services, while avalanche transceivers work only between group members. To be on the safe side, we recommend using both systems, which require no subscription.
Satellite phones work everywhere, even in remote areas. This is its advantage (which is not free) over a cell phone, which only transmits in certain areas. An intermediate solution is to use a rental beacon to send a geolocated distress message. The best-known brands are InReach and SPOT.
The avalanche probe probes the snow to locate victims. Folded, it takes up no space, and can be assembled like a tent pole. By systematically planting it in the snow, rescuers can pinpoint the exact location of a buried victim, avoiding time-consuming digging.
Avalanche probes come in a variety of lengths, rigidity and materials. The shortest standard length is 240 cm, for shallow snow and routine rescues. A 320 cm length is available for deeper snow or for snow layer observations.
The avalanche airbag can help reduce the severity of the effects of an avalanche by reducing the depth of burial. It enables rapid localization. It also improves visibility and can offer some protection against trauma. The airbag is not a miracle solution. It does not dispense with the use of other locating equipment.
The avalanche shovel is designed in two pieces, and the handle can be detached from the blade for easy storage. Some shovels are more effective than others. The shovel should fit in your bag. Avoid plastic or fragile shovels, as they can break in icy snow in cold weather. An extendable handle makes digging easier and less tiring. Mastering effective shovelling techniques can save lives. Every minute counts.
All first-aid equipment should be carried in a backpack. Because in the event of an avalanche, the snowmobile could be buried.
Detecting avalanche warning signs
Once you’re in the field, it’s important to observe and assess the risks, even if your area isn’t listed in the avalanche bulletin.
Steep slopes and uneven terrain are at greater risk of triggering an avalanche. Fresh snow layers can be unstable.
Cracking or whistling sounds in the snow can indicate that a layer of snow is breaking away from the underlying layer.
Cracks in the snow indicate an unstable snowpack.
Be on the lookout for small, harmless avalanches, or small patches of loose snow. These may be the harbingers of a major snow flow.
Beware of temperature changes or strong winds, which can degrade snow stability.
It’s avalanche time in Quebec
Until now, the risk of avalanche has not been a concern for Quebec off-trail snowmobilers. With three deaths in 2024, it’s time to take the phenomenon seriously and equip ourselves accordingly. It’s not out of the question for the coroner’s office to create preventive measures, as was done for trail snowmobiling after the drowning deaths of five snowmobilers in 2021.
Useful links :
- Avalanche Canada: https://avalanche.ca/
- Avalanche Québec: https://avalanchequebec.ca/motoneige/
