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A man has died after being caught and buried in an avalanche near Tumbler Ridge in northern British Columbia, according to Avalanche Canada.
The public avalanche safety organization said three snowmobiles were traveling in the Bullmoose area about 35 kilometers southwest of Tumbler Ridge when the avalanche was triggered remotely by a snowmobile at the base of the slope.
According to the agency, the avalanche measured about 300 meters wide and 240 meters long. Avalanche Canada Incident Report.
“The subject was completely buried underground and did not survive, despite the prompt rescue of his comrade,” the report said.
According to Avalanche Canada, the hazard in the area is rated “significant” – the third-highest risk category on a scale of five – meaning natural and human-caused avalanches are possible.
The report states that no one was injured as a result of the avalanche.
A spokesperson for Avalanche Canada told CBC News it couldn't talk about specific incidents.
The RCMP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tumbler Ridge is located approximately 175 kilometers northeast of Prince George, British Columbia, as the crow flies.
Get ready for the backcountry: weather forecaster
Martina Halik, an avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada, said the Tumbler Ridge area has seen stormy and windy conditions recently.
She said the rain crust, which forms when rain freezes on top of snow and new snow accumulates on top, caused a persistent weak layer in mid-December. The layer can fail when overloaded and triggered.
She advises people who want to go off-the-beaten-path to check out latest newsletters for specific regional conditions.
When venturing into avalanche terrain, people should always be on guard and stick to easier terrain if they have any uncertainty about the conditions, Khalik advised.
She said people should carry a probe, shovel and avalanche transceiver and have proper avalanche safety training.
Nearly 80 per cent of all avalanche fatalities in Canada over the past 10 years occurred in British Columbia. according to a statement from the province.
