Avalanche
A 42-year-old man from Golden, British Columbia, was killed in an avalanche on Monday while skiing in the mountains southeast of the town. The incident is the first avalanche-related fatality in Canada this season.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), authorities were alerted at 10 p.m. when two skiers were reported missing. The pair had last been heard from at 5:30 p.m.
“The first skier in a group of two triggered a wind slab avalanche near the top of the slope. The slab depth was an average of 20 cm with a maximum depth of 40 cm and was 30 m wide. The avalanche funnelled into a confined gulley and ran 990 m in length. The subject was located near the toe of the avalanche and was 120 cm below the surface.”
– Avalanche Canada preliminary report
One of the skiers managed to return home safely but tragically reported that his companion had succumbed to injuries sustained in the avalanche. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim could not be revived. The survivor made the difficult decision to leave his friend’s body at the scene to ensure his own safe return.
Search and rescue teams were deployed via helicopter to recover the deceased skier. The Golden-Field RCMP is now collaborating with the BC Coroners Service to investigate the incident.
(1/2) We’re deeply saddened to learn of a fatal avalanche that happened yesterday in the Rocky Mountains, east of our Purcells forecast region. Even a shallow avalanche in consequential terrain can be serious and right now, we’re particularly wary in regions where…
— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) February 19, 2025
Avalanche Canada reported that the avalanche was triggered near the top of a slope on Kapristo Mountain. The slide, classified as a Size 2 avalanche, ran approximately 3,250 feet (990 meters) down a confined gully. Size 2 avalanches are considered capable of burying, injuring, or killing a person.
Kapristo Mountain – Avalanche Canada preliminary report
ACCIDENT DATE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2025
- Avalanche size/type: Size 2, wind slab
- Aspect: N
- Elevation: 2280 m
- Number caught: 1
- Number deceased: 1
- Description: The first skier in a group of two triggered a wind slab avalanche near the top of the slope. The slab depth was an average of 20 cm with a maximum depth of 40 cm and was 30 m wide. The avalanche funnelled into a confined gulley and ran 990 m in length. The subject was located near the toe of the avalanche and was 120 cm below the surface.
The danger rating for the closest reporting zone on the day was low, 1 of 5 on the danger scale, although Avalanche Canada warned, “Isolated small avalanches are still possible at low danger. Remain cautious in extreme and high-consequence terrain.” According to OpenSnow three inches of fresh snow had fallen that morning, after a dry February.
There have been 12 avalanche fatalities this winter in North America. This is the first in Canada. On the same day, two skiers were killed in an avalanche near Bend, Oregon, and a skier was killed on Luther Pass, south of Lake Tahoe, California.
