A skier dead after avalanche on Mount Currie near Pemberton

lulululu

http://www.theprovince.com/news/ ... /2750361/story.html

A skier was killed in an avalanche on Mount Currie near Pemberton on Wednesday afternoon.

RCMP spokesman Staff Sgt. Steve Leclair said the man was heliskiing with three others when the group was struck by a Class 3 avalanche at 2:20 p.m.

The victim was in a more exposed position and was swept over several cliff bands and buried. He was dug out by his companions but died at the scene.

According to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, the latest fatality takes the March avalanche death toll in B.C. to six.

On March 20, two skiers died in the Cariboo Mountain Range when a 400-metre wide slab avalanche swept them down a 30-degree slope.

A day before, a snowmobiler died when taken by an avalanche in the Monashee Mountain Range.

On March 13, two snowmobilers died in a massive avalanche that swept over a group of snowmobilers gathered at Turbo Hill, near Revelstoke.

The CAC says in its forecast that natural avalanche activity in the South Coast Region has tapered off since Monday’s big storm, but it is expected to pick up again on Friday with more loading from snow and wind.

“Very large and destructive avalanches associated with deeply buried persistent weak layers are possible” in the Southern Chilcotin Mountains south of Pemberton.

The risk of avalanches at the alpine level is considerable for Thursday and Saturday and high on Friday in the Sea-to-Sky region. In the Duffy Lake and inland areas, the risk at alpine level is considerable for the next three days.

Travellers in the South Coast region are advised to use extra caution and the CAC says “avalanches will occur with human and other triggers.”

lulululu

“Very large and destructive avalanches associated with deeply buried persistent weak layers are possible” in the Southern Chilcotin Mountains south of Pemberton

that should read "North of Pemberton" the South Chilcotin Mountains don't really start until North of the Pemberton valley.

http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/cac-forecasts/south-coast

Duffey Lake Corridor has been bumped to High for Friday/Saturday for slopes generally facing NW through NE which are wind loaded over 3- 5 persistant weak layers.
See Karl Klassen's report (Forcaster for Duffey Lake Corridor) for this area anomaly.

Special Message
The Southern Chilcotin Mountains, north of Pemberton, remain an anomaly in the South Coast region. Very large and destructive avalanches associated with deeply buried persistent weak layers are possible. If you are planning on traveling in this area read this article posted in the CAC Digital Library.

http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/libr ... ticles/PWLpaper0910