Let’s get behind the organizations that are dedicated to protecting our environment

Unfortunately, global climate change is impacting the world. One of the places I see it is in the glaciers melting. I just did a video on the Kootenay Avalanche Courses Youtube Channel that explains how it impacts summer alpine travel.

Climate change has a more complex effect on our BC winters. Warmer temperatures on average sometimes help our winter snowpack in terms of stability. However, climate change causes more dramatic shifts in weather and sometimes the factors combine to produce really tricky snowpacks, like the 2023-24 season. Luckily, we continue to receive enough of that glorious BC powder to make for generally excellent backcountry touring conditions.

KAC donates 5% of our profits to aid in the fight to change worldwide practices toward a more sustainable future. One organization we support is Protect Our Winters. POW was formed in 2007 by legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones. They put pressure on governments in Canada, the US, and beyond to adopt more sustainable models of living in our climate-impacted world.

KAC also supports the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada. They are a more locally-based and grassroots organization that are committed to improving climate-impacted conditions that threaten the beautiful whitebark pine trees that live in higher elevation treeline areas. That environment makes up some of our favourite areas for quality powder and backcountry touring.

Closer to home, though it seems preposterous, a mining outfit is deceptively trying to start an open pit mine on Record Ridge. Their tactics to push this project to approval have been less than ethical to say the least. A dedicated group of Rosslanders have formed an organization to “Save Record Ridge”. I have supported the committee through donations and benefit concerts. Kootenay Avalanche Courses is now donating as well!