Man killed in avalanche in southeastern BC

Avalanche blasting (File Photo)

A Nelson man died after he was caught in an avalanche in a remote section of Kootenay Pass while skiing with friends on Sunday.

A group of four skiers were trekking through high terrain in an area between Salmo and Creston when two were hit by a slide and swept over a cliff into the trees below.

Two of the skiers from the group went for help while six others, who were skiing nearby, stayed and started rescue efforts.

A 28-year-old man was killed and a 27-year-old woman was injured. Both are from the Nelson area.

They were able to locate the woman skier and loaded her onto a snowmobile to move her to safety.

The fading light and poor conditions prevented them from extricating the man and his body remains at the scene.

The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued a warning last week advising recreational users to use extreme caution in the backcountry as three metres of snow on top of a weak crust has created the potential for massive slides.

 (With files from The Canadian Press)