Designing an Avalanche Danger Scale Warning System
The most pressing problem for those working in the avalanche safety field is how to educate and inform amateur recreationists of the relative risks involved and how best to spot the clues that might alert them to the possibility of avalanches while travelling in avalanche terrain. The just announced new Danger Scale Warning System attempts to do just that.
The avalanche danger scale … communicates the likelihood of avalanches being triggered, their expected size, how widespread the situation may become and the recommended action for backcountry travel.
– federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice
I was given the opportunity to work on the visual design of the Avalanche Danger Scale card, which was the final piece in a multi-year project led by Grant Statham, IFMGA, Mountain Risk Specialist at Parks Canada. The card is intended and was designed to be used in pre-planning of backcountry outings in avalanche terrain and is meant to be referenced with current avalanche bulletins. (more…)