Father and son killed in avalanche near Lake Louise

(File Photo)

A man and his son were found dead in avalanche debris at the base of a mountain on the shore of Lake Louise by Parks Canada safety crews on Saturday.

The pair was reported missing to RCMP and a search was initiated with support from a Parks Canada Search and Rescue specialist.

On Saturday afternoon, a Parks Canada dog handler found the father and son dead in avalanche debris at the base of Mount Fairview near Lake Louise.

Their names are not being released pending notification of next of kin.

More details are expected to be released from Parks Canada on Sunday on the two fatalities as well as two other rescues on Saturday.

An avalanche north of Lake Louise in Banff National Park buried a 38-year-old Calgary man sending him to Foothills Hospital in critical condition.

Parks Canada crews and RCMP were called to an area south of Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, off Highway 93, after four people triggered an avalanche while skiing in the Helen Shoulder glades.

The man was buried in the slide and the three other uninjured skiers took about 15 minutes to locate him with probes and beacons.

People who were passing on the highway stopped to help perform CPR on the victim until EMS arrived.

A Parks Canada alpine helicopter airlifted the unconscious man to Lake Louise and STARS took him to Foothills Hospital in Calgary in critical condition.

Parks Canada says avalanche conditions at the time were rated considerable in the alpine, treeline and below treeline levels.

An ice climber was also rescued by parks crews on Mount Costigan, near the east end of Lake Minnewanka on Saturday morning.

The injured climber, a man in his 20s, was found after a SPOT beacon was activated and he was evacuated from the area.

An avalanche in B.C. also claimed the life of a 36-year-old man from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

Clearwater RCMP say two men were buried in a slide in the back of Red Sands Mountain near Blue River, B.C.

Police say a group of snowmobilers were in the area and were able to dig the two men out.

One man was immediately rescued, but the second died of his injuries.

Parks officials are urging people to check conditions before they head out and to take the necessary avalanche safety equipment with them.

On Sunday, the avalanche forecast is rated as high in many mountain parks because of snow overnight and warming temperatures.

For current avalanche conditions, visit the Canadian Avalanche Centre.