Two dead in avalanche near Golden: Avalanche Canada
Posted February 16, 2023 6:51 pm.
Last Updated February 16, 2023 7:46 pm.
Avalanche Canada says two people have been killed by an avalanche in the Purcell Mountains.
The organization says a group of five snowboarders and one skier triggered the avalanche Thursday.
Two were fully buried by the avalanche and died, while one person was successfully rescued and sustained injuries.
The area, known as Terminator 2.5, is outside of the ski area boundary near Golden, the organization adds.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that two people were killed in an avalanche accident in the Purcells today. The snowpack in the interior is still incredibly complex and difficult to manage. Deep persistent slab problems may exhibit no signs of instability before a large avalanche occurs,” Avalanche Canada says in a tweet.
1/3 We are deeply saddened to learn that two people were killed in an avalanche accident in the Purcells today. The snowpack in the interior is still incredibly complex and difficult to manage. Deep persistent slab problems may exhibit no signs of instability before a large… pic.twitter.com/wiN3zzyxBu
— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 17, 2023
“They’re most likely to be triggered on steep and rocky slopes where the snow cover is thin or variable. Choosing low-risk terrain and maintaining good travel habits, including having one person on a slope at a time and avoiding slopes where other groups are riding, is especially important with a dangerous snowpack.”
The group adds that they weren’t the only snowboarders in the area, as another group was on a lower track when the avalanche was triggered.
The agency says these snowboarders were also “impacted,” but did not elaborate. It does say no one else was injured.
“The avalanche ran on a weak layer of facets near the base of the snowpack. The very large avalanche measured 115 m wide by 950 m long with a crown depth of 1.5 m.” Avalanche Canada says on its website.
This latest incident brings the total number of people killed due to avalanches in B.C. this year to nine.
With files from Renee Bernard
