Two snow-bikers are dead after getting caught in an avalanche in the Pemberton backcountry, police have confirmed.
In a release, Pemberton RCMP said they were notified late Monday afternoon, Dec. 28 of the missing bikers in the area of Goat Peak. Investigators have since learned that backcountry guides had reported a “fresh crown” along the side of the mountain that day, with avalanche debris that was roughly 100 metres wide by 200 metres long. The guides told Mounties they were unable to locate any active beacons and they were unsure at the time if the snow-bikers had made it safely to the other side of the slide.
Pemberton Search and Rescue (PSAR) was notified, but the search was postponed until first light on Tuesday morning, Dec. 29. At approximately 8:30 a.m., search crews, representatives from Blackcomb Helicopters, and the RCMP’s canine unit began searching for the missing bikers.
Later that morning, a search party located parts of the snow bikes in the debris field and conducted a beacon search in the immediate area before locating a signal. At about 10 a.m., two males were found dead.
Pemberton RCMP said it would not be releasing the names of the deceased.
The BC Coroners Service is now investigating.
The tragedy marked the second time Pemberton search-and-rescue crews were activated in less than 24 hours, police said. At approximately 3:15 p.m. Dec. 28, police received a call from an international response centre advising that an emergency device had been activated. PSAR attended and the injured man was helicoptered to a medical centre for treatment.
“The Pemberton and Whistler RCMP would like to remind others thinking of heading to similar areas to carry proper equipment, be aware of local conditions and avalanche risk, and ensure someone is aware of the their location and plan,” police urged in the release.
Search-and-rescue groups across the Sea to Sky and beyond have been bracing for a spike in rescues this winter as the pandemic has pushed more recreationalists into the backcountry.
“I don’t think any emergency response agency or group in the corridor isn’t fully prepared for an onslaught,” said Whistler Search and Rescue manager Brad Sills in an interview with Pique earlier this month. “Every indicators there that it’s going to be very, very busy, so we’re kind of just resigned to the fact that there’s going to be a lot of missed dinners and nights where you don’t come home.”
