LAKE LOUISE – Two skiers are dead in separate avalanches in Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country during elevated avalanche conditions on Friday.
First responders said an EMS unit from Banff responded to Lake Louise for reports of an avalanche in an out-of-bounds area near the ski resort at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Friday (March 14).
“Alpine Helicopters retrieved one patient from the avalanche scene down to our waiting ground EMS crews,” said Stuart Brideaux, public education officer for Alberta Health Services EMS in an email.
“Paramedic crews unfortunately declared the adult patient deceased and did not transport to hospital.”
The second avalanche fatality occurred approximately 30 minutes later, at about 4 p.m. in Kananaskis Country. Kananaskis Mountain Rescue were called.
“A unit from Kananaskis responded for reports a person was injured in an avalanche while skiing north of the Black Prince day use area along Hwy 742,” Brideaux said.
“Alpine Helicopters also retrieved this skier and brought them down to the Kananaskis unit where they were unfortunately also declared deceased.”
According to a Mountain Information Network (MIN) report posted by Parks Canada's visitor safety team on the Avalanche Canada site, one of two skiers was buried in an avalanche.
After skiing Pipestone Bowl, which is out-of-bounds from the Lake Louise ski area, the report said two skiers were working their way back to the ski area on a flagged traverse line in their downhill gear.
At about 3 p.m., the first skier triggered the avalanche on a 25 degree slope that propagated to the steeper terrain overhead.
“He was carried 50 m and buried 150-200 cm deep,” states the Parks Canada MIN report, “Skier 2 conducted a transceiver search, excavated Skier 1, and initiated First Aid. Park Canada Visitor Safety evacuated the party to Emergency Medical Services."
In Kananaskis Country, police say a 34-year-old Calgary woman was swept away in the avalanche and buried in snow in a backcountry area off Highway 742, also known as Spray Lakes Road, near Mount Black Prince.
Constable Julie-Ann Strilaiff, an RCMP public information officer, said Cochrane and Stoney Nakoda RCMP responded to assist Kananaskis Mountain Rescue and Kananaskis Emergency Services on the call.
“An SOS beacon was sent out, notifying emergency responders, and despite diligent best efforts of the other 3 skiers to provide medical attention, the female was declared deceased by first responders,” said Strilaiff.
“RCMP send their condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”
According to another MIN post, Kananaskis Mountain Rescue responded to an avalanche on an east aspect at 2,100 metres near Black Prince.
"Skier one skied the slope, which potentially triggered the avalanche, which was 100 m wide failing down 80-100cm likely on the January crust," the report states.
"The skier was carried down the slope for 50-80m. The other three skiers in the party skied down, located the skier and called for help."
Kananaskis Mountain Rescue responded, provided medical assistance and evacuated the skier to EMS.
Earlier in Lake Louise, RCMP said first responders spent further time looking for a skier they believed unaccounted for. There is no updated information on this at the time.
Lake Louise Fire Department, Parks Canada’s rescuers, local ski patrol, employees of the ski resort, Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services, Parks Canada and STARS were on scene in Lake Louise to help with the search.
The RCMP had asked for the public to follow instructions from all first responders and staff of the resort, and to have patience while all efforts are made to to locate and rescue anyone in need
The two deaths came just hours after rescuers urged backcountry users to stay out of avalanche terrain as the avalanche hazard was rated high in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay, and considerable in K-Country, on Friday following a big dump of snow over the previous 24 hours.
The avalanche hazard is listed as considerable in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks, as well as Kananaskis Country heading into Saturday and Sunday with heightened avalanche risk continuing in the coming weeks.
About 30-90 cm of snow fell throughout Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks since March 7, including 10-15 cm in a 24-hour period starting Thursday, which almost doubled the snowpack in areas like Bow Summit as well as big dumps along the Wapta and in Little Yoho.
There had been reports of many natural avalanches up to size 3 as well as human-triggered avalanches
To check out avalanche conditions before heading to the mountains, go to https://avalanche.ca.
