Smithers RCMP Burnie Glacier SAR search and recovery
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Smithers RCMP and Bulkley Valley Search and Rescue Team completed their efforts searching for and recovering two skiers buried in an avalanche, Saturday, Feb. 26, in the Burnie Glacier area, 50 kilometres southwest of Smithers.
The Bulkley Valley SAR attended the scene each day for the past three days. Due to unstable conditions, the recovery of both people was hampered until Monday.
However, the area was made ‘safe’ prior to a search being conducted Monday when the bodies of a 52-year-old woman from Regina, Sask., and the 64-year-old man from Canmore, Alta., were recovered.
A group of four back country skiers were caught in the avalanche Saturday afternoon, with one of the four (a 64-year-old man) being able to rescue the others. The man found one of the three buried, suffering only minor injuries.
The two men then located a third member of their group, however, the 52-year-old woman from Regina was located deceased, the fourth individual from Canmore was buried, said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, senior media relations officer for the southeast and north districts.
“The four were part of a larger group who were on a ‘self-guided’ excursion into the area,” he said. “The two men then returned to their lodging late Saturday afternoon and reported the incident to authorities.”
The Bulkey Valley SAR technicians were able to fly into the area via helicopter Sunday morning and assessed the conditions. SAR and Avalanche technicians were able to conduct some slope stabilizing blasting, done in effort to render the entry point and corridor to the site safe for SAR and ski into the area.
Back country enthusiasts, be it mechanized or non-mechanized users, are asked to be aware of avalanche and weather condition for their area and to ensure that they check current avalanche conditions with the Canadian Avalanche Center website at avalanche.ca.
“Backcountry users are also reminded to carry the three essential pieces of avalanche safety equipment in addition to first aid and other gear,” said Cpl. Moskaluk.
The gear includes personal transceiver devices, avalanche probe sticks and a shovel.
The next of kin notifications have been made however police are not releasing the names of the victims at this time. The BC Coroners Service is continuing with their investigation.
