RCMP Reporting Several Avalanche Incidents near Pemberton

Pemberton SAR attended to the Cassiope area and discovered a large avalanche on the north face of Cassiope Peak where 4 skiers were caught – 1 had serious injuries, 2 were not injured and unfortunately one was found deceased.

Information was received by Pemberton SAR that the second avalanche was on the Cassiope Trail Head where there had been an avalanche in the area that at least 2 people were caught in but were not injured and were making their way to safety.

What initially appeared as reports of two separate slides turned out to be one massive, size-3 avalanche with a fracture line spanning about 1.2 kilometres. It ran between 500 and 800 metres down the slope and impacted about 10 ski-tourers and splitboarders in two unrelated parties, said WSAR manager Brad Sills. The avalanche was triggered in an upper treeline feature on a northeast aspect, according to Avalanche Canada.

The third avalanche was on Mount Cayley where a group of snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche and one member of the group had serious injuries. Whistler and Squamish SAR were attending to that call in order to get the sledder out for medical treatment.

“There is no doubt that the snowpack remains unstable and information from Avalanche Canada and in consultation with Avalanche experts in our area their is an immense risk in the Sea to Sky backcountry at this stage” stated Staff Sergeant Sascha Banks. “We are concerned for additional large avalanches in the coming weeks with the increase in temperatures and sunny conditions, and ourselves and Pemberton SAR are asking you check avalanche ratings and plan your trips prior to heading out in our backcountry. We also want to thank all the bystanders and those involved who assisted today and to the Search and Rescue teams from Pemberton and Whistler who continue to rescue those in dangerous situations. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of all who were involved today.”