Inquiry hears avalanche danger moderate on day of 2021 fatal Banff snow slide

The avalanche danger was assessed as moderate on the day Spencer Postman died in a skier-triggered slab avalanche on Haddo Peak in Banff National Park on April 5, 2021. Brian Webster, the manager of visitor safety for Parks Canada in Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay national parks, testified at an inquiry into Postman's death.

“

I reviewed the reports from the previous days. I reviewed partner bulletins from adjacent jurisdictions.

Webster stated that he reviewed previous reports and bulletins from adjacent jurisdictions before concluding the danger level did not require updating. He told the inquiry, presided over by Justice Karl Wilberg, that Postman, 26, and his friend, who were traversing extreme terrain, should have had the necessary information to make an informed decision. "We forecast all the information we are able to get," Webster testified.

“

Postman and his friend should have had the information they needed that day to make an informed decision.

The inquiry's purpose is not to assign blame but to provide recommendations for preventing future tragedies, focusing on improvements to warnings and communication. Webster described the process of gathering information for daily avalanche reports as being "very much like being a detective," where forecasters synthesize as much data as possible into a bulletin.

“

We forecast all the information we are able to get.

While Webster believes the information provided by Parks Canada is sufficient, he acknowledged the importance of finding multiple ways to disseminate this information to the public. "I always question how effective we are at connecting to (online) user groups," he added, highlighting the ongoing challenge of reaching all potential users with critical safety data.

“

It’s very much like being a detective.