Avalanche
An avalanche struck a pair of ice climbers in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada, on November 11, 2023, resulting in one fatality. The incident occurred as the climbers were descending from the Lone Ranger ice climb in the park’s Ranger Creek area. The fatality is the first avalanche-related death in North America of the ’23/24 season.
“A fatal avalanche occurred on Saturday involving ice climbers on the Spray Road. A size 2.0 naturally trigged slab avalanche failed in alpine terrain, ran over a cliff and caught two people in a terrain trap. Unfortunately one person did not survive. Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain as another rapid loading event is possible Monday afternoon.”
A 29-year-old man from Squamish, B.C., tragically lost his life, while a 26-year-old woman accompanying him survived with minor injuries.
The RCMP and Kananaskis Emergency Services responded to the incident, initially reported through a Garmin inReach device. Despite intense search efforts, the male climber was not immediately found. His body was recovered the following morning under the snow. The incident has led to the closure of the Ranger Creek Drainage area, including the Lone Ranger ice climb, as a safety precaution.
Avalanche Canada has reported that the avalanche was triggered by a wind slab and warns of further potential wind slab avalanches in the area and advises avoiding exposure to all alpine avalanche terrain until conditions stabilize. This incident is the first avalanche fatality of the 23/24 season, the second avalanche fatality in Alberta this year, and the 16th in Canada in 2023.
Avalanche Canada warns that the tragedy underscores the importance of preparedness and caution in backcountry activities, especially in areas known for avalanche risks. Climbers and skiers are advised to stay informed about current conditions and to carry appropriate safety equipment.
“Snowpack Summary – We now have a persistent weak layer (Nov 10) that is down about 20-40cm in the alpine, 10cm at treeline. Very little is known about this Nov 10th temperature crust, but it appears to be spotty aspect wise, very reactive(slippery) and estimated to be up to 2400m. Wind slabs built very quickly Saturday with lots of visible wind transport. Overall snowpack depth and character is largely unknown as it is early season. From what we have seen and heard total snow depth varies from 10-60cm. Coverage is very inconsistent with LOTS of hidden hazards.”
We are deeply saddened to hear of a fatal avalanche accident in Kananaskis Country yesterday. Although it's early in the season, it's essential to factor avalanche hazard into your trip planning.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/luZ6fYqH1A— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) November 12, 2023
