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As snowpacks across the interior continue to become more unstable, avalanches are becoming particularly common and proving fatal this season.
On Monday, BC Emergency Health Services received a call at about 2:24 pm to help with the transport of three patients involved in an avalanche near Mount McCrae, which is about 40 kilometres south of Revelstoke.
Helicopters were called in to transport the patients to the Kelowna airport.
Unfortunately, the Revelstoke RCMP have confirmed that two of the people have died due to their injuries and the third person remains in serious condition.
Mounties say the small group of people had been heli-skiing in the area when the avalanche happened.
The Revelstoke RCMP continue to assist the BC Coroners Service in the investigation.
According to avalanche Canada, the Revelstoke area is classified as having “dangerous” avalanche conditions.
BCEHS crews were also called to an avalanche in the Cherryville area on Monday afternoon.
Paramedics transported one patient to a nearby hospital. No updates have been provided about that incident at this time.
On Saturday, Avalanche Canada confirmed that a large human-triggered avalanche happened in the mountains around Valemount, which is nearly 300 kilometres southeast of Prince George.
Unfortunately, one snowmobiler was killed in that incident.
We're hearing of remote triggered avalanches in the northern BC interior. Remote triggers, like in this video, are a strong sign that the snowpack is unstable and to avoid avalanche terrain.
— Avalanche Canada (@avalancheca) January 24, 2023
Get the forecast at https://t.co/JwMaRhyDrR
š„: Frozen Pirate Snow Services, not current pic.twitter.com/Zzgwu4gr8v
Earlier this month, two members of the Nelson Police Department also died after an avalanche near Kaslo.
Avalanche Canada is warning backcountry enthusiasts to take extra precaution this winter and encourages skiers, snowmobilers and others that now is “not the time for stepping into big terrain.”
“The snowpack for the mountains of interior BC remains incredibly difficult to manage,” says the organization.
“It’s essential to keep choosing low angle, low consequence terrain and remember that large, destructive avalanches are possible even as danger ratings begin to be reduced.”
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