Kootenay avalanche kills Crawford Bay snowmobiler
2 snowmobilers were caught in a slide on the east side of Gray Creek Pass, 1 of whom was buried
An avalanche in Gray Creek Pass in B.C.'s Kootenay region claimed the life of a male snowmobiler on Tuesday.
Kimberley Search and Rescue said they received reports Tuesday afternoon that two snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche on the east side of Gray Creek Pass. One of the snowmobilers managed to get out and call for help. The other, who was in his twenties, was buried.
Kimberley SAR was joined by Nelson SAR — which had to fly in because the avalanche happened so far away.
Chris Armstrong with Nelson SAR has since confirmed that the buried male has died. He said both snowmobilers are believed to be from Crawford Bay, B.C., and were riding in backcountry area.
Deadly avalanche season
The Canadian Avalanche Centre has issued special avalanche warnings for southern B.C. mountains in recent months.
Last weekend, three people died in two separate avalanches. One snowmobiler died after being buried by an avalanche in the Monashee Mountains east of Vernon, B.C., and two snowshoers died after getting caught in a slide near Lake Louise, Alta.
In February, a 35-year-old male snowmobiler died after being buried in an avalanche on Boulder Mountain near Revelestoke, B.C. In a separate avalanche just days later, a 27-year-old man was killed and a 27-year-old woman was seriously injured when they were caught in an avalanche while skiing in the Lightning Strike backcountry near Kootenay Pass.
- Avalanche kills man on Boulder Mountain near Revelstoke, B.C.
- Kootenay Pass avalanche kills 1, seriously injures another
In January, a male snowmobiler died after being hit by a slide at Goat Ridge, about 30 kilometres south of Valemount, B.C.