A woman buried in an avalanche on Mount Cameron on Sunday was pulled out by her friends, who thankfully were properly equipped, says the leader of the rescue team that responded.
Paul Berry of Comox Valley Search and Rescue said the woman was flown to Vancouver for treatment. He did not know her condition.
He said his team was called about 2 p.m. by B.C. Ambulance.
“It was a very well-organized party,” he said. “They had a satellite communicator, but they were very fortunate in that they did have some cell coverage where they were.”
He said the group had been backcountry skiing with a guide. All were very experienced and carried crucial equipment such as beacons and shovels.
According to a report on the Avalanche Canada website, two skiers were caught in the slide and carried almost 200 metres down a slope. One person was buried almost 1.5 metres under the debris.
“They were able to clear the snow and free her airway,” Berry said. The other person caught in the slide was partially buried, he said.
Berry said the avalanche was triggered as the group tried to pick a route through some trees. It was a size 2 avalanche, meaning it had enough mass to bury a person. “Had they not been well prepared and skilled, the outcome might have been very different.”
The rescue crew put the woman who had been buried into a splint for transport out of the area and bundled her up.
Berry said it is important to be aware of avalanche conditions whenever you venture into the backcountry. This past weekend, there was a special avalanche bulletin on the the North Shore, and the conditions on the Island were similar.
He said there were several human-triggered avalanches on the Island over the weekend, but none of the others resulted in injury.
Those heading out in the snow should check the weather and seek avalanche information, Berry said.
Avalanche terrain can have a number of characteristics, such as the angle of a slope, he said. “Anything between 25 and 35 degrees is an area that you really want to avoid.”
Avalanche Canada has expanded an avalanche warning for B.C.’s south coast to include Vancouver Island, with forecasters saying that recent snowfall has put pressure on a weak, buried snow layer.
“In the rugged terrain of the North Shore Mountains and the popular backcountry areas of Vancouver Island, there are lots of places where this layer is a really big problem,” Avalanche Canada forecaster Kate Devine said in a statement.
“We urge all recreational backcountry users to be extra diligent in their route-finding, and give yourselves a large margin for error when travelling in any type of avalanche terrain.”
The avalanche warning is expected to be in place until Thursday.
Backcountry users should check the avalanche forecast at avalanche.ca or islandavalanchebulletin.com before going out, Avalanche Canada says. It also recommends that everyone in a party have rescue gear, including an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel, and know how to use it.
