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One person has died in an avalanche in B.C.’s popular Joffre Lakes Park, just east of Pemberton.
Pemberton RCMP officers were notified around 2 p.m. PT Tuesday of a missing person in the backcountry near Joffre Peak, about 25 kilometres east of Pemberton and 50 kilometres northeast of Whistler.
Pemberton Search and Rescue president David MacKenzie confirmed Wednesday the person was backcountry snowboarding when they were caught in the slide.
“The avalanche was triggered by the rider, who was solo at the time, and they were at the very top of the path and the reporting party witnessed the slide from Keith’s Hut and after an unsuccessful search, they left to go get help,” MacKenzie said.
The individuals were riding near Anniversary Glacier and SAR members located them deceased at around 4:25 p.m.
MacKenzie said the person was buried about 1.5 metres deep in snow and the avalanche was quite large.
“Some of our members that are quite experienced at that, described it as one of the larger, avalanche paths that they’ve actually been involved with,” MacKenzie said.
RCMP Insp. Robert Dykstra said there was an avalanche in the area where the person was believed to be.
“Pemberton SAR located the missing person deceased and recovery is ongoing,” Dykstra told CBC News on Tuesday evening.
Avalanche Canada has confirmed it was made aware of an avalanche near Pemberton.
The fatality is B.C.’s fourth of this avalanche season, and the third in the last week.
It comes after a skier died after being buried in an avalanche east of Revelstoke, B.C., on Thursday.
Last Tuesday, a snowmobiler died after he was caught up in an avalanche near Fernie.
In December, another snowmobiler died in an avalanche near Tumbler Ridge in northeast B.C.
Considerable risk
Officials warned of avalanche danger spiking across southwest B.C. after a storm over the weekend.
A high avalanche danger rating was in place on Monday for the Sea-to-Sky area, which was adjusted to a considerable risk on Tuesday.
Considerable avalanche danger is the third-highest risk category on a scale of five, with “high” and “extreme” the fourth and fifth steps.
Avalanche Canada says that avalanche risk remains considerable for alpine terrain throughout southwest B.C. on Tuesday.
“Avalanche danger may spike on Wednesday afternoon with new snow and strong winds,” forecasters said on Tuesday.
Joffre Peak is located within the popular Joffre Lakes Park, which saw an average of 180,000 annual visitors in 2021, before day-use passes were required.
A map shows considerable avalanche risk throughout southwest B.C. on Wednesday, with the risk going up on Thursday. (CBC)
