Snowmobiler buried and killed in northeastern B.C. avalanche

A snowmobiler has died in an avalanche in the Rockies near Tumbler Ridge, B.C., despite two other snowmobilers desperately scrambling to rescue their companion. (Image courtesy Avalanche Canada)

A snowmobiler has died in an avalanche in the Rockies near Tumbler Ridge, B.C., despite two other snowmobilers desperately scrambling to rescue their companion.

Avalanche Canada reports the incident happened on Tuesday in the Bullmoose area, about 35 kilometres southwest of the northeastern B.C. district municipality.

Three snowmobilers were out riding when Avalanche Canada says a slide “was remotely triggered from the base of the slope.”

According to Avalanche Canada, one of them “was caught and buried.”

“The subject was fully buried and did not survive, despite prompt companion rescue,” Avalanche Canada says.

No details about the deceased have been provided.

Avalanche Canada puts the slide at about 300 metres wide by 240 metres long, and says its crown was 75 centimetres to two metres thick.

Avalanche Canada also says the area “was heavily wind-affected.”

The danger rating at the time of the slide was listed as “considerable,” which is the middle of the scale from low to extreme.

‘Considerable’ risk

Avalanche Canada’s website says a danger rating of considerable “is regarded by many experts as the trickiest to manage.”

It says the risk “isn’t as obvious as when the rating is high, but it’s still not a good idea to take chances.”

An article is available on Avalanche Canada’s website listing “10 things to consider when the danger’s considerable.”

That article can be read in full there, but the 10 things to consider include “small avalanches in many areas” and “large avalanches in specific areas,” and that “human-triggered avalanches are likely.”