Avalanche in British Columbia Kills Three Skiers, Including Guide and Pro Snowboarder
The March 24 tragedy near Kootenay Lake highlights ongoing avalanche risks as investigations and safety warnings continue.
- Three men, including a guide and a professional snowboarder, lost their lives in an avalanche in the Clute Creek watershed, with a fourth skier critically injured.
- The victims were part of a guided heli-skiing group operated by Stellar Heli Skiing and were swept away while waiting in a staging area below the tree line.
- Avalanche Canada had issued a high danger warning for the region on the day of the incident due to unstable snowpack, heavy snowfall, and rising temperatures.
- Kaslo Search and Rescue deployed a specialized team to recover the skiers, but three were found with no vital signs, and one was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
- Authorities, including the RCMP and BC Coroners Service, are investigating the incident as Avalanche Canada continues to warn of dangerous backcountry conditions.