It has been a tragic start to the long weekend as a person has died in the Sea to Sky backcountry.
On Friday afternoon (Feb. 12), at approximately 3:20 p.m., Whistler RCMP was notified of a Size 3 avalanche in the Poop Chutes off Blackcomb Glacier.
Multiple skiers were caught in the avalanche. Four people were found: two sustained injuries, one person was uninjured, and one was pronounced dead by a doctor in the area, according to an RCMP news release.
Whistler RCMP officers are working with Whistler Blackcomb ski patrol, Blackcomb Helicopters, and avalanche technicians and dogs on the scene to determine if anyone else was caught in the avalanche, according to the release.
(If you know of anyone who was in the area and is overdue, call the Whistler RCMP detachment at 604-932-3044.)
Sea to Sky RCMP officers and rescuers have fielded two other calls for assistance in 24 hours.
The first call came on Thursday, Feb. 11, when two backcountry skiers got caught in an avalanche in Garibaldi Provincial Park in the Super Couloir Area on the back of Mamquam Mountain.
Also, on Thursday, Squamish RCMP officers were contacted about an overdue backcountry skier who was solo touring in the Elfin Lakes area.
Police were able to locate the man's vehicle in the parking lot leading to the Upper Elfin Lakes Trail and contacted Squamish Search and Rescue to help find him.
Other agencies joined the search. Members from Lions Bays SAR, North Shore Rescue, Whistler SAR, and Pemberton SAR searched throughout the day in the Ring Creek and Mashiter Creek area.
The man was found late Friday and is being treated for extensive exposure injuries, according to Squamish RCMP.
"We have said this multiple times already this year, the snow pack in the backcountry of the Sea to Sky is unstable and is subject to considerable and high avalanche risks," said Sgt. Sascha Banks in the release.
"This is relevant for close proximity and popular backcountry areas such as Blackcomb Glacier, to Garibaldi Provincial Park, and the Brandywine Bowl from January. I cannot stress enough that you need appropriate avalanche equipment, train how to use it, recognize risk, and have up-to-date beacons/transceivers and that you know how to use them. These exact things saved lives yesterday in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Anyone coming here needs to check Avalanche Canada for reports and even decide that now is not the time to be touring in the Sea to Sky."
