Four people survived three separate avalanches on Monday in the treacherous backcountry slopes of southwest B.C. One skier is in serious condition and a second in stable condition after they were hit by an avalanche early in the afternoon in the Joffre Lakes area near Pemberton, B.C.
The skiers were taken to nearby Whistler, B.C., by a searchand-rescue helicopter before being rushed to hospital, a B.C. Ambulance Service representative said. Meanwhile, around 3 p.m., emergency services were called to Bralorne, B.C., a small mining community near Lillooet, according to Cpl. Darrell Robinson of Lillooet RCMP.
"It was reported that three individuals had snowmobiled into the back country," Robinson said. "They were using their snowmobiles to climb some of the hills in the area, then ski down them. One person got caught up in an avalanche and was carried quite a ways down the mountain into some trees and debris."
One person stayed with the injured man, while the other went to get help, Robinson said. Search-and rescue officials and local backcountry skiers helped to rescue the man, who RCMPsaid was in his 30s.
He was taken by helicopter to a Whistler hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, RCMPsaid a statement late Monday evening. Also on Monday afternoon, another man was caught in a third avalanche nearby. RCMPsaid that man was skiing with eight other people when the avalanche hit. The man was rescued by his companions, who called the nearby Tyax Wilderness Resort for assistance, said RCMP.
The man also suffered non-life-threatening injuries, RCMPsaid. He was flown by helicopter to the resort and then taken to hospital in Lillooet. Pemberton is 150 kilometres north of Vancouver, while Bralorne and Tyax Wilderness Resort are about 230 and 250 kilometres north of Vancouver respectively.