Avalanche in northwestern B.C. kills two snowboarders in provincial park
Credit to Author: The Canadian Press| Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 20:18:36 +0000
Two men have been killed in an avalanche in northwestern British Columbia’s Tatshenshini-Alsek Park.
The B.C. Coroners Service says the men, who were in their early 20s, were with a third man snowboarding in the area when the avalanche hit Monday afternoon.
The service says in a statement the men who were killed were from Haines, Alaska.
It says it is investigating to determine how, where and by what means the men died.
James Minifie, lead avalanche technician for Avalanche Canada, says Christmas week saw storms, snow and strong winds that led to an increase in dangerous conditions for that corner of the province.
He says the area where the snowboarders were found is “fairly remote” mountainous terrain and is used for recreation by both Canadian and American citizens.
Minifie says high avalanche conditions persist in the area and people need to be aware of the dangers before going into the back country.
He says they need to have satellite-enabled communication and an emergency plan.
The park is known for its river systems and has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.