Skip to content

Dog teams search avalanche near Revelstoke resort boundary

Revelstoke Search and Rescue and CARDA search dog teams assist with an avalanche search near the Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Revelstoke Search and Rescue and CARDA search dog teams assisted with an avalanche search near the Revelstoke Mountain Resort boundary on Mount Mackenzie just before 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said a skier triggered a size 2/2.5 avalanche. The incident happened in the "Thumbs Up" area of the Greely Bowl.

Moskaluk said the slide occurred mostly outside of the resort boundary, but part of the debris field ran in-bounds. "The skier who had triggered the slide was accounted for and provided information to authorities following the slide," Moskaluk said in a media statement. "Initial concerns were also held for other skiers who were nearby and had witnessed the slide."

Ski patrollers from Revelstoke Mountain Resort conducted an initial search of the slide, but didn't locate anyone buried underneath. Revelstoke Search and Rescue alongside CARDA dog teams were flown in by helicopter to conduct a supplemental search. "The search was concluded late in the afternoon, with searchers having a high degree of confidence with their search results and determination that no skiers were buried by the avalanche,” Moskaluk said.

In a statement, the RCMP encouraged backcountry enthusiasts to educate themselves regarding avalanche safety and safe backcountry use while skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling. They encourage all backcountry users to take advantage of avalanche reports, forecasts and safety training available through the Revelstoke-based Canadian Avalanche Centre's website: www.avalanche.ca.

Avalanches are rated on a scale from 1 through 5 (smallest to largest). A size 2 avalanche can kill, injure or bury a person.