As spring weather arrives and more people head out to enjoy the mountains, first responders are urging Albertans to be prepared and know the risks.
This week is National Emergency Preparedness Week, and Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta are taking the opportunity to remind people that the mountains and backcountry, while beautiful, come with many dangers.
Increase in Search and Rescue Activations
Christian Stenner, a director on the board of Search and Rescue Alberta, said search and rescue team activations increased by 19 per cent in 2025, with a total of 400 activations. This rise underscores the need for enhanced preparedness among outdoor enthusiasts.
Key Safety Messages
Constable S.J. of the Cochrane RCMP emphasized that year-round, many Albertans take advantage of everything the province has to offer, visiting parks and backcountry areas for hiking, camping, quadding, sledding, and other outdoor activities. However, he noted that with these opportunities come risks such as wildfires, floods, rock slides, and sudden inclement weather.
“Planning and preparedness are the best defense,” said Constable S.J. “We encourage everyone to take the time to understand the risks and carry the right equipment. Being prepared not only helps keep you safe, but it also supports first responders and our search and rescue partners when the time matters most.”
Unpredictable Spring Weather
During the spring months, unpredictable weather poses a significant risk to those enjoying Alberta’s parks and backcountry areas. “The weather is going to change, truthfully, from the bottom of a hike to the top of a hike,” Constable S.J. explained. “We can do our best to look at the weather, but the mountains have their own weather system that they like to surprise us with.”
Having the proper clothing, footwear, and other gear to brave the weather is essential, as is ensuring you have the means to communicate if something goes wrong, and taking your skill level into consideration before embarking.
River Safety
Melting snow and ice can also make river conditions difficult to predict. “We have a very good snow pack that’s obviously going to be changing with the warm weather, and as that increases, so will the flow of the rivers,” Constable S.J. said.
Preparation Tips
The best way to be prepared, according to officials, is to do as much research as possible beforehand about your route, current conditions, and necessary equipment. “There’s so many resources online now that we can actually get right from our home prior to going out to those areas,” Constable S.J. noted. “Water temperature, what the conditions are like in the water — we even have some really great CCTV in some of the more popular mountain areas that you can actually check from your home.”
Talking to others in the area who are doing the same activity can also be helpful. By taking these steps, Albertans can enjoy the outdoors safely while reducing the burden on search and rescue teams.
