Asulkan ValleyAsulkan ValleyAvalanche trackAvalanche track

Geography 477Geography 477Fall 2007Fall 2007

Penny Simpson, Jessica Paramio, Penny Simpson, Jessica Paramio, Maciej Stetkiewicz, Ashley DittmerMaciej Stetkiewicz, Ashley Dittmer

OutlineOutline

►►RationaleRationale►►ObjectivesObjectives►►BackgroundBackground►►Methodology Methodology ►►ResultsResults►►DiscussionDiscussion►►ConclusionConclusion►►RecommendationsRecommendations

RationaleRationale

►►Highly used trail that showed evidence of Highly used trail that showed evidence of frequent high magnitude avalanches.frequent high magnitude avalanches.

►►Areas is frequented in the winter and early Areas is frequented in the winter and early spring by cross country skiers spring by cross country skiers

ObjectiveObjective

►►Determine frequency and distribution Determine frequency and distribution patterns of high magnitude avalanches on patterns of high magnitude avalanches on recreational trail.recreational trail.

►►Analyze present data accounts of trail Analyze present data accounts of trail usage. usage.

Site descriptionSite description

►► Located directly off of Located directly off of Highway 1 in Glacier Highway 1 in Glacier National Park.National Park.

►► Base of trail is located at Base of trail is located at Illecillewaet campground.Illecillewaet campground.

►► Asulkan trail is 6.5 km long. Asulkan trail is 6.5 km long. ►► Study site was approx. 3 km Study site was approx. 3 km

into trail.into trail.►► Max avalanche path crosses Max avalanche path crosses

trail approx. 375 m.trail approx. 375 m.

http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imfx/imf.jsp?site=imapbc

Team Avalanche, Missing Boot Team Avalanche, Missing Boot Brook and our Avalanche shootBrook and our Avalanche shoot

East and West viewpoints East and West viewpoints

Tree speciesTree species

►►Subalpine firSubalpine firage range 3age range 3--400 yrs400 yrs

►►Western Mountain Western Mountain HemlockHemlock

age range 7age range 7--800 yrs800 yrs

►►Englemann SpruceEnglemann Spruceage range 4age range 4--500 yrs500 yrs

Tree coringTree coring

►► Base coresBase corestaken from the groundtaken from the ground

►► ScarsScars

ScarsScars

MethodologyMethodology

►► Took base core samples and scar samples.Took base core samples and scar samples.►► Scars were taken wherever they could be found at Scars were taken wherever they could be found at

various elevations.various elevations.►► A transect was set up on the northern side to A transect was set up on the northern side to

produce age profile.produce age profile.►► Took tape measurements of estimated transect Took tape measurements of estimated transect

avalanche and distance traveled up slope, slope avalanche and distance traveled up slope, slope measurements.measurements.

►► Sanded samples using six different grades (50, 80, Sanded samples using six different grades (50, 80, 120, 220, 400 and 600). 120, 220, 400 and 600).

►► Scanned and analyzed samples with WinDendro Scanned and analyzed samples with WinDendro 05/06 and Microscope.05/06 and Microscope.

Close relation between curves Close relation between curves -- Tree age Tree age useful as avalanche indicator.useful as avalanche indicator.

►►Change in tree age with distance towards Change in tree age with distance towards the interior of the Avalanche shoot. the interior of the Avalanche shoot. Decrease in age with the exception .Decrease in age with the exception .

►►Assume avalanches are controlling factor on Assume avalanches are controlling factor on tree age tree age

►►Scar and tree age data to determine the Scar and tree age data to determine the minimum number of avalanches over a minimum number of avalanches over a period (1933 period (1933 -- date of oldest found event).date of oldest found event).

►►Frequency and magnitude Frequency and magnitude -- number of number of events and extent of avalancheevents and extent of avalanche

►►Avalanches that reach the lateral extent of Avalanches that reach the lateral extent of the shoot occur less frequentlythe shoot occur less frequently

►►The exception in the age prolie is a bit of a The exception in the age prolie is a bit of a puzzle puzzle -- maybe indication of different maybe indication of different avalanche pathsavalanche paths

►►Additional research requiredAdditional research required

►►25 events with magnitude sufficient to reach 25 events with magnitude sufficient to reach Asulkan trail Asulkan trail -- about every 4 yearsabout every 4 years

►►3 events with magnitude sufficient to climb 3 events with magnitude sufficient to climb about 100 m up the opposite slope about 100 m up the opposite slope -- about about every 37 yearsevery 37 years

►►1 event with magnitude sufficient to climb 1 event with magnitude sufficient to climb 150m or more up opposite slope 150m or more up opposite slope -- about about every 73 yearsevery 73 years

Risk is subjectiveRisk is subjective

Asulkan RisksAsulkan Risks

http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/PCAN_Terrain.pdf

Park usagePark usage

►►From 1991From 1991--2001 traffic increased 1% to 2% 2001 traffic increased 1% to 2% annuallyannually

►►Ski tourism increasingly popularSki tourism increasingly popular►►By 2001 Asulkan trail head exceeds capacityBy 2001 Asulkan trail head exceeds capacity►►Asulkan classified as a High Use Backcounty Asulkan classified as a High Use Backcounty

Land Management UnitLand Management Unit

http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v-g/bc/glacier/pd-mp/toc-tdm_e.asp

Trail Usage winter seasonTrail Usage winter season

Monthly usageMonthly usage

ConclusionsConclusions

►►Evidence that high magnitude avalanches Evidence that high magnitude avalanches do cross the trail frequentlydo cross the trail frequently

►►There is a risk to cross country skiersThere is a risk to cross country skiers

►►Further research is neededFurther research is needed

What we would do differentlyWhat we would do differently

►► More cores from both sides.More cores from both sides.►► Difficulty in identifying trees and types of scars Difficulty in identifying trees and types of scars

(fire/bear/avalanche).(fire/bear/avalanche).►► Coring issues, and finding scars.Coring issues, and finding scars.►► Problems with project: absence of trees does Problems with project: absence of trees does

not mean it is because of avalanchenot mean it is because of avalanche-- heavy heavy snow pack.snow pack.

►► Judgment call in approximate length of max. Judgment call in approximate length of max. avalanche track.avalanche track.

►► Put shoe in bag to cross riverPut shoe in bag to cross river

ReferencesReferences►► iMap BC iMap BC http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imfx/imf.jsp?site=imapbchttp://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imfx/imf.jsp?site=imapbc►► Avalanche Terrain Ratings for the Mountain National Parks, ParksAvalanche Terrain Ratings for the Mountain National Parks, Parks Canada Canada

http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/PCAN_Terrain.pdfhttp://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/PCAN_Terrain.pdf►► Parks Canada trail count data courtesy of Anna Brown, Park WardeParks Canada trail count data courtesy of Anna Brown, Park Wardenn►► Parks Canada, Mount Revelstoke National Park of Canada and GlaciParks Canada, Mount Revelstoke National Park of Canada and Glacier National er National

Park of Canada and Rogers Pass National Historic Site of Canada Park of Canada and Rogers Pass National Historic Site of Canada Management Management Plan, Plan, http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/vhttp://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/v--g/bc/glacier/pdg/bc/glacier/pd--mp/tocmp/toc--tdm_e.asptdm_e.asp