February 18, 2025 – A backcountry skier in his early 40s has died after being caught in an avalanche on Kapristo Mountain near Golden, B.C., on Monday, February 17.
RCMP were alerted late Monday that two backcountry skiers were overdue. One skier managed to escape, while the other was caught in the avalanche. The victim was later found buried 120 centimetres below the surface near the toe of the avalanche.
According to Avalanche Canada, the first skier in the group triggered a wind slab avalanche near the top of the slope.
The avalanche, which measured approximately 30 metres wide, funneled into a confined gulley and traveled 990 metres down the mountain.
A wind slab is a cohesive layer of snow formed when wind transports and deposits snow onto leeward slopes, creating a potentially unstable surface that can easily break and trigger an avalanche.
Avalanche Canada described the avalanche as a size 2 wind slab, with an average depth of 20 centimetres and a maximum depth of 40 centimetres.
The safety organization expressed condolences, emphasizing the risks of even shallow avalanches in steep or complex terrain.
“We’re deeply saddened to learn of a fatal avalanche that happened yesterday in the Rocky Mountains, east of our Purcells forecast region,”
Avalanche Canada posted on social media. “Even a shallow avalanche in consequential terrain can be serious, and right now, we’re particularly wary in regions where it is possible for avalanches to step down to a deeper weak layer.”
Authorities, including the BC Coroners Service, continue to investigate the incident.
For more information on avalanche safety and the official incident report, visit Avalanche Canada’s website at avalanche.ca.
Skier Dies in Avalanche Near Golden B.C.