Frequently Asked Questions
How Backcountry Briefing works, what's covered, and how to subscribe.
What is Backcountry Briefing?
Backcountry Briefing is an automated daily conditions briefing for anyone traveling in BC backcountry ski terrain — from individual ski tourers and splitboarders to heli-ski operators and guide companies. It aggregates avalanche danger, snow totals, weather forecasts, and road conditions from multiple data sources into a single email delivered at 6:30 AM PST.
Who is Backcountry Briefing for?
Anyone who travels in BC backcountry ski terrain and wants conditions delivered before they head out. This includes individual ski tourers, splitboarders, snowmobilers, and backcountry guides, as well as heli-ski and cat-ski operators who currently compile their own morning brief.
How does Backcountry Briefing score zones?
Each zone receives a score from 0 to 100 using four weighted factors: new snow (40%), avalanche safety (30%), road access (15%), and weather conditions (15%). Grades are Epic (90-100), Great (75-89), Good (60-74), Fair (45-59), Poor (30-44), and Avoid (below 30).
What avalanche data does Backcountry Briefing use?
Avalanche danger ratings come directly from Avalanche Canada's public API and are passed through verbatim with no interpretation or editorializing. Each briefing shows Alpine, Treeline, and Below Treeline danger levels, avalanche problems with aspects and elevations, and forecaster comments. Backcountry Briefing is a data aggregation service, not an avalanche forecasting service — always check avalanche.ca directly before traveling in avalanche terrain.
What snow data sources does Backcountry Briefing use?
Snow data is aggregated from multiple independent sources: resort summit snow reports (Fernie, Kimberley, Kicking Horse, Whitewater, Big White, Silver Star), Avalanche Canada alpine weather stations (154 stations across BC), BC ASWS automated snow pillows (8 active stations in the corridor), and the Open-Meteo GEM weather model. Each zone page shows all available sources and flags disagreements between them.
What does a Backcountry Briefing email include?
Each daily briefing includes: a zone score and grade (0-100), a bottom-line conditions summary, Alpine/Treeline/Below Treeline avalanche danger bands from Avalanche Canada, 24h/48h/72h snow totals from the best available source, a 7-day avalanche danger trend sparkline, a 2-day weather outlook with freezing level, road conditions from DriveBC, and sub-zone terrain breakdowns where available.
What time is the briefing delivered?
6:30 AM PST (7:30 AM PDT). This timing catches morning resort snow report updates from Fernie, Kicking Horse, and Kimberley, which typically publish between 6:00-7:00 AM PST.
Is Backcountry Briefing a replacement for Avalanche Canada?
No. Backcountry Briefing surfaces Avalanche Canada forecasts alongside snow and weather data in one place. It does not produce avalanche forecasts, does not interpret danger ratings, and does not replace professional judgment. Always check avalanche.ca directly before making terrain decisions.
What road conditions are included?
Road conditions come from DriveBC's Open511 API, covering provincial highways in BC. Each zone's briefing includes active incidents, closures, and winter conditions on key access highways. The road score reflects zone accessibility on a given morning.
What are sub-zones and terrain breakdowns?
Some zones include sub-zone terrain breakdowns that score individual terrain areas by aspect, elevation band, wind exposure, and access type. Sub-zones are grouped as In Play, Caution, or High Hazard based on how current avalanche problems intersect with that terrain's profile — useful for anyone planning routes in that zone.
What is a 7-day avalanche danger trend?
The 7-day trend shows Avalanche Canada's treeline danger rating for each of the past seven days as a sparkline chart, color-coded by level (green=Low, yellow=Moderate, orange=Considerable, red=High, purple=Extreme). A rising trend is shown in red; falling in green; stable in gray.
What zones does Backcountry Briefing cover?
33 zones across British Columbia and Alberta, grouped by region:
- South Rockies: Fernie / Lizard Range, Flathead / Akamina-Kishinena, Elkford / Height of the Rockies, Crowsnest Pass / Castle, Waterton / Gladstone Range
- Central Rockies: Lake Louise / Icefields Parkway, Kootenay / Highway 93S, Kananaskis / Smith-Dorrien, Canmore / Bow Valley, Jasper / Marmot Basin, Moraine Lake / Lake Louise, Mt. Assiniboine / Kootenay NP, Athabasca / Columbia Icefield
- Columbia Valley: Kimberley / Northern Purcells, Invermere / Panorama, Radium / Paradise Valley, Fort Steele / Premier Range
- West Kootenays: Nelson / Whitewater, Kootenay Pass, Valhalla / Slocan, Rossland / Red Mountain, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park
- North Columbia: Nakusp / Arrow Lakes
- Glacier / Rogers: Revelstoke / Rogers Pass, Revelstoke Southside, Golden / Dogtooth Range
- North Thompson: Blue River / Cariboos, Valemount / Robson Valley, Sun Peaks / Interior Plateau, Wells Gray / Clearwater
- Okanagan: Big White / Kelowna Highlands, Silver Star / Vernon, Shuswap / Eagle Pass
Get the Daily Briefing
Conditions, snow data, avalanche danger, and road access in your inbox at 6:30 AM PST — before you head out.
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