A guided backcountry skiing trip near Revelstoke ends in tragedy as a skier dies in an avalanche amid considerable avalanche risk.
Skier Dies in Backcountry Avalanche Near Revelstoke
A backcountry skiing adventure turned fatal Thursday when a skier was caught in an avalanche east of Revelstoke, B.C. The incident highlights the serious risks that remain in the mountains this winter.
Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing, the company guiding the group, confirmed the death, saying the skier was part of a guided party when the slide occurred.
“It is impossible to put into words the sorrow we feel,” said Dave Pehowich, general manager of Selkirk Tangiers. “This sadness touches everyone affected, including our staff.”
How the Avalanche Happened
The skier, one of the last in the group to descend, triggered the avalanche while skiing down a slope. Cpl. Brett Urano of the RCMP reported the victim was buried under about 1.5 metres of snow.
Rescue teams from Selkirk Tangiers quickly pulled the skier from the snow and began CPR before airlifting them to Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke. Sadly, the skier did not survive.
“This tragic event is a stark reminder of the inherent risks in the backcountry, even for experienced skiers,” Urano said.
Avalanche Conditions in the Selkirks
Avalanche Canada notes that the slide occurred in the Akolkolex River drainage, on a southeast-facing slope at roughly 2,150 metres in the Selkirk Mountains, about 19 kilometres southeast of Revelstoke.
Tyson Rettie, an avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada, explained that both the Selkirk and Monashee mountains currently carry a “considerable” or Level 3 avalanche rating. This means natural avalanches are possible, and human-triggered slides are likely.
“It’s a challenging time to be recreating in the mountains right now,” Rettie said, referring to the heightened risk following warm weather and heavy snow.
Safety Measures and Support for Guests
Pehowich emphasized that no other guests or guides were injured, and counselling has been offered to those impacted by the incident.
“Our guests are like family,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the skier, as well as everyone involved.”
He also noted that Selkirk Tangiers guides undergo rigorous training to reduce risks, though he acknowledged, “It’s impossible to eliminate 100 per cent of the risks in the backcountry.”
B.C.’s Deadly Start to the Year
This marks the second avalanche-related death in B.C. this year. Earlier in February, a snowmobiler was killed near Fernie after being buried in an avalanche.
The incidents serve as a sober warning to anyone venturing into mountainous terrain: even the most prepared and experienced backcountry enthusiasts face real dangers when conditions are unstable.
