Three men were killed in an avalanche on the east side of Kootenay Lake on Monday.
In a release, Kaslo RCMP said that around 1 p.m., two groups of skiers had just finished skiing the bowl and were waiting in a staging area below the tree line of the Clute Creek watershed.
The pilot of a transport helicopter was nearing the group when they saw an avalanche start to happen and sounded the siren.
One group of skiers ran out of the way, however, the other group of four was swept away into the tree line.
Three of the men were found dead — a 44-year-old man from Whistler, a 45-year-old man from Idaho and the 53-year-old guide from Kaslo.
One of the victims has been identified as Alex ‘Pash’ Pashley, a sports marketer at The North Face.
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“Pash was a beloved colleague, a passionate professional, and a cherished member of The North Face family. His dedication, spirit, and kindness left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of working with him.”
The fourth man, a 40-year-old from Nelson, was found alive but suffered critical injuries, Kaslo RCMP said.
Stellar Heli Skiing confirmed in a statement to Motorcycle accident toronto today that it was the company involved in the incident.
“Kaslo Search and Rescue was dispatched shortly after the incident was reported and responded with a team of four specialized winter response technicians,” the company stated.
“The entire team at Stellar Heli Skiing extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time.”
The company would not confirm the identity of the guide, only saying that he was a senior member of staff.
Last week, Avalanche Canada issued a special avalanche warning for the Central Rockies through to Monday.
The agency warned that the dangerous conditions could also be present in areas adjacent to those areas.
“Recent storm snow overlies a weak snowpack structure and has produced numerous very large avalanches over the last two weeks. Avalanches triggered on this layer have propagated widely, even through forested areas, and may involve the entire depth of the snowpack,” the warning stated.
Paul Chiddle, an avalanche expert from the University of Calgary, told Motorcycle accident toronto today that the area has had an unstable snowpack for some time.
“We have a bunch of challenges,” he said. “We have a rapid change in temperatures, we have persistent weak layers and we have the human factor. So it’s not a time to try to outsmart the snowpack.”
Chiddle said humans can contribute to slope instability and any additional load on the snowpack can trigger an avalanche.
“Use as much information as you can to plan a day in the backcountry,” he added.
Chiddle said people should also check Avalanche Canada‘s website to make sure they get all the up-to-date information.
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