The news that Kai Smart has died following an avalanche in Japan lands hard across the ski community, now made even more real by the words shared by his father, John Smart. Kai was a Whistler Pro skier, and part of a family deeply rooted in the sport. The son of the founder of Extremely …
Read more Whistler Pro Skier Kai Smart Killed in Japan Avalanche
A backcountry skier was killed in an avalanche near Haines Pass, BC on March 22. A group of five was ski touring 4.5 kilometres northwest of Mount McDonell when the fourth skier triggered the avalanche while descending the slope. One skier was fully buried at a depth of approximately 1.5 metres and did not survive. …
Read more Haines Pass Avalanche Backcountry Skier Death
Three skiers died in an avalanche while heli-skiing with White Wilderness Heli Skiing north of Terrace on Iridium Shoulder on Mount Knauss. The group of four was skiing on Mount Knauss, approximately 30 kilometres north of Terrace, when the avalanche was triggered just before 1:30 p.m. PT on Sunday. RCMP say three skiers were killed, …
Read more Three Skiers Died in a Heli Incident Near Terrace
A rock slide near the Whistler Peak Chair has forced the closure of an important lift on Whistler Mountain, cutting off access to the highest lift-served alpine terrain. Resort operations confirmed that a rockfall occurred near the summit lift infrastructure, prompting an immediate safety closure of both Whistler Peak Chair and the Peak Express Chair …
Read more Rock Slide Forces Closure of Whistler Peak Chair
The current Deep Persistent Slab Danger Warning from Avalanche Canada, supported by observations shared through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and field reporting from Parks Canada, points to a structural weakness in the snowpack that remains reactive across parts of Western Canada. Recent avalanche activity in Rogers Pass illustrates the scale of the problem. …
Read more Deep Persistent Slab Danger Warning
Pro Splitboarder Stratton Matteson has died after triggering a large avalanche near Anniversary Glacier, in the alpine terrain between Joffre Peak and Mount Matier, east of Pemberton. On February 24, 2026, the Sea to Sky RCMP were advised of a lone snowboarder involved in an avalanche in a remote area above Joffre Lakes Park. General …
Read more Pro Splitboarder in Avalanche Near Pemberton
A heli skier was killed February 19 after triggering a persistent slab avalanche in the Selkirk Mountains southeast of Revelstoke while skiing with Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing. The avalanche occurred in the Akolkolex River drainage, approximately 19 kilometres from Revelstoke, on a southeast-facing slope at roughly 2,150 metres — treeline terrain. According to Avalanche Canada …
Read more Heli Skier Killed by Avalanche in Selkirk Mountains
The Persisting Surface Hoar Layer from January remains an avalanche concern across Western Canada, and recent field observations show it is still producing skier-triggered avalanches. On Wednesday evening, Mark Klassen, ACMG, shared a field report from the Yoho zone after skiing Coat Tail Right off the Top Hat. “The upper run skied well with no …
Read more The Persisting Surface Hoar Layer from January Remains Avalanche Concern
Two guests narrowly avoided injury during an inbounds cornice fall at Whistler Blackcomb on February 2. The event occurred in the Saudan Couloir, an experts-only run on Blackcomb Mountain known for its steep pitch and exposed alpine terrain. According to reports, one guest triggered a cornice fall from above, and the falling cornice struck a …
Read more Two Guests Involved in Inbounds Cornice Fall at Whistler Blackcomb
Surface hoar frost formed during recent high-pressure weather is about to become a serious avalanche problem as a series of potent storms moves into Western Canada, with Avalanche Canada forecasters urging backcountry users to dial back exposure to avalanche terrain. The combination of new snowfall, mild temperatures, and strong winds is poised to rapidly increase …
Read more Surface Hoar Frost From High Pressure Is About to Get Loaded
Avalanche Canada has launched a comprehensive online database documenting every known avalanche fatality in Canada since 1782. The new Fatal Avalanche Incidents database provides unprecedented access to the nation’s avalanche history, providing valuable insights to improve public safety, education, and research, while honouring the lives lost to avalanches over the past two and a half …
Read more Avalanche Canada Launches National Fatal Avalanche Incidents Database
Avalanche Canada has released its first avalanche forecasts of the 2025-26 winter, marking the official start to the season for backcountry users across the country. As always in early winter, data is limited and confidence levels are low, making careful terrain choices and firsthand observations more important than ever. The organization urges anyone heading into …
Read more Avalanche Canada Releases First Forecasts of the Winter
