A scrambler's body was recovered from a fatal avalanche in Kananaskis Country's backcountry this week, according to safety specialists.
A scrambler's body was recovered from a fatal avalanche in Kananaskis Country's backcountry this week, according to safety specialists.
Kananaskis Country Public Safety (KCPS) responded to the fatal incident, Tuesday (May 24) on Mount Lawson, off Highway 40 about 42 kilometres south of Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino.
A preliminary investigation reveals the the Calgary man might have triggered the avalanche, said Kananaskis RCMP.
The scrambler planned a solo excursion Monday (May 23) and KCPS responded when the subject was reported overdue the following day.
“The subject had made the summit and while on descent triggered a size 2.0 loose wet avalanche and was critically buried in a terrain trap,” KCPS wrote on mountainconditions.com.
The fatal avalanche was triggered in the northeast area of the mountain at approximately the 2,500-metre elevation.
“The avalanche was quite narrow, but travelled over 500m vertical distance and funnelled into a prominent gully feature lower on the mountain,” wrote KCPS.
KCPS reported up to 40 centimetres of snow had fallen in the alpine throughout Kananaskis over the May 2-4 weekend. The fatal avalanche was one of “numerous” avalanches observed by KCPS on Tuesday during the recovery operation.
KCPS warns that the recent snowfall will take a few days to stabilize.
“A very cautious and conservative approach to avalanche terrain is advised until this recent snow has a chance to stabilize,” stated KCPS.
Safety specialists strongly recommend everyone in a backcountry party needs to be equipped with an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
A two-day Avalanche Skills Training 1 course is the minimum training recommended for travelling in avalanche terrain.
