MONDAY
DECEMBER 29, 2014
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Vol. 63, Issue 249
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Special avalanche warning issued FOR THE TOWNSMAN
REVELSTOKE — Avalanche Canada is issuing a special public avalanche warning for the North Rockies, Cariboos, North Columbia, South Columbia, Kootenay-Boundary, Purcells, South Rockies, Lizard and Flathead, and South Coast Inland regions. This warning applies to recreational backcountry users and is in effect from December 26 to December 30. Recent snowfalls coupled with winds and warm temperatures has placed a heavy load on a fragile snowpack, explains Avalanche Canada Public Avalanche Forecaster Joe Lammers. “The wild swings in weather this season have left a mix of smooth crusts and persistent weak layers in our snowpack,” said Lammers. “This complex snowpack has the potential to surprise backcountry users with large avalanches even though riding conditions will be good.” The stormy days leading up to Christmas produced a touchy snowpack that was providing lots of feedback to users—many natural slides and numerous small avalanches easily triggered by human activity. “People were triggering slides even as they approached slopes,” adds Lammers. “This made the dangerous conditions obvious. But that sort of feedback is going to change in the coming days, even though the weak layers are still there buried under 60 – 100 cm of good powder snow.” Avalanche Canada recommends backcountry users stay on simple, low-angle terrain; avoid large, steep slopes; minimize exposure to overhead hazard; avoid travelling where other users are on slopes above; and re-group in safe zones away from avalanche run-outs until conditions improve. If you do not have the training or experience to assess avalanche terrain and local conditions, it’s a good idea to recreate in areas where the avalanche risk is professionally managed. All backcountry users must be equipped with essential avalanche safety equipment. Everyone in the party needs an avalanche transceiver, a probe and a shovel every day. It’s equally important that everyone has avalanche training and has practiced using this equipment. If an avalanche occurs, the rescue is up to you. There is no time to go for help. For the avalanche forecast, check www.avalanche.ca.
BARRY COULTER PHOTO
Left to right: Don McCormick, Mayor of Kimberley; Don Davidson, President, Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society; Lee Pratt, Mayor of Cranbrook; Terry Segarty, Hospice Society board member; Bev McCormick;Ken Betenia, Harley Owners Group Assistant Director; Jeanne Davidson, Hospice Society Coordinator; Bob Gilchrist, Hospice Society Treasurer. In front are the two Harley-Davidson motorcycles raffled off Friday, Dec. 26, in support of the Cranbrook and Kimberley Hospice Society. Second prize, a Sportster 883 Iron, is in the foreground. The first prize Dyna Fat Bob is behind it.
Harleys raffled to help Hospice BARRY COULTER
Harley-Davidson of the Kootenays was a busy place on Boxing Day, Friday, Dec. 26. Dozens gathered to see who the lucky winner would be (hopefully themselves) in theannual raffle Harley-Davidson raffle. Each year, Harley Davidson of the Kootenays and the local Harley Owners Group (HOG) join together to raise funds through the motorcycle raffle. For the second year in the row, the raffle was in support of the Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society, The Harley-Davidson raffle is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Cranbrook and Kimberley Hospice Society, which provides services for people at the end of their lives, and support
for their families. Three-thousand tickets were sold for the chance to win some outstanding prizes: • First prize was a 2014 Harley-Davidson Dyna Fat Bob, with a value of 23,545.76. • Second prize was a 2014 Harley-Davidson Portster 883 Iron, with a value of $13,870.08. • Third Prize was a Harley-Davidson storage bench, with a value of $1,295. Don Davidson, President of the Hospice Society, said the raffle helps the society provide all their services in the East Kootenay. “This is the second year that (the Harley Owners Group) has made us their charity of choice. With funds from this raffle, we are able to deliver all of the ser-
vices for the East Kootenay, to help people at the end of their life and their families.” Ken Betenia, Assistant Director of HOG, also thanked the various sponsors for their assistance: ABC restaurant, the Heritage Inn, Moyie Pub, the Sullivan Pub and Marysville Liquor Store; the Tamarack Centre, Save-On in Cranbrook and Overwaitea in Kimberley and Home Depot. The draws for the three prizes were made by Lee Pratt, Mayor of Cranbrook, Don McCormick, Mayor of Kimberley, and Bev McCormick, Don’s wife. Lee Pratt urged the public to become more aware of and give support to the Hospice Society, and Don McCormick praised the work that the society did. “In
spite of the inevitability of death, we really don’t deal with it very well. The services the Cranbrook and Kimberley Hospice Society provides is amazing.” Bev McCormick drew for third place. The winner of the Harley-Davidson Storage Bench was Jack Johnson of Kimberley. Lee Pratt drew for the winner of the Portster — Bryan Beler of Elkford was the winner. And Don McCormick drew the name for first prize, the Dyna Fat Bob. Dale Cook of Cranbrook was the winner. For more information on the Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society, go to http://www.ckhospice.com. For more information on Harley Davidson of the Kootenays, go to harleydavidsonkootenays.com.