Avalanche claims life of snowmobiler in West Kootenay
Posted February 15, 2014 6:23 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
REVELSTOKE (NEWS1130) – A man is dead after an avalanche in the West Kootenay Saturday afternoon.
RCMP Constable Leslie Smith says Boulder Mountain near Revelstoke was packed with people when the slide came down.
“A group of three snowmobilers who were in the area of the Boulder Mountain snowmobile cabin were in that location when an avalanche was triggered. One male was caught in the avalanche. He was later located by search and rescue, found to be unconscious but later succumbed to his injuries.”
Smith says it’s too early to say whether the actions of the men led to the slide.
“It is unknown if there were different areas of Boulder Mountain that were at a high risk for avalanche, but again, the unpredictable weather … when you’re outdoors it can be a factor in those areas.”
Snowmobilers have caused avalanches in the past by an activity called high-marking, where they race up a slope to see who can go the highest.
The area where the snow came down is now off limits.
The avalanche danger is high in much of the back country right now.
