Two skiers lives were unnecessarily jeopardized over the weekend, a situation which may have been avoided if common sense was used, say Parks Canada visitor safety specialists.
In separate incidents in Banff National Park, two male skiers fell off the side of mountains when a cornice – overhanging ridge ice – gave way under their feet. In areas known for accidental deaths, it’s “just amazing” and “very lucky” they both survived, said Grant Statham, visitor safety specialist for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks.
A U.S. man in his mid-30s walked away with bruises and scratches on Sunday (March 29) after he fell approximately 100-150 metres while skiing on the Balfour High Col. on the Wapta Traverse. The man was travelling in whiteout conditions without a rope apparatus in a mixed group of 10 skiers, Statham said.
“They hadn’t gone very long from the Balfour High Col. when one person skied right off the edge of a cornice, the cornice collapsed and the person just disappeared in front of everybody,” Statham said. “If you’re skiing on a glacier in a whiteout, wear a rope.”
The man suffered minor injuries in the fall down a 50-degree ice and rocky slope where he lost all his equipment but one ski attached to his foot, which he used to grind himself to a halt.
Visitor safety specialists were made aware of the situation after a personal locator beacon was set off by one of the skiers Sunday afternoon. But due to conditions, they had to rescue the man on Monday (March 30). Statham said the skier was able to climb back to the top of the ridge with the help of a rope and his peers and spent the night in the Scott Duncan Hut.
While injuries were relatively minor in this incident, an 18-year-old male from Enderby, B.C., was flown to Calgary Foothills Hospital on Friday (March 27) when he suffered a “badly broken leg and back injuries” after he tumbled nearly 500 metres through steep, rocky areas. The skier went out of bounds at Sunshine’s Goat’s Eye ski area and took a peek over the edge, which was a huge mistake, Statham said.
“It seems so basic to say it, but we keep having to say it over and over again,” said Statham. ”You just don’t walk over to the edge and look over in the mountains. You just don’t do it because that’s where big overhanging cornices are.
“He was very lucky to have survived a fall like that.”
Statham said the skier created a size 2 avalanche in the accident, but wasn’t buried by avalanche debris. He was conscious and stable while being airlifted by STARS Air Ambulance to Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, where he was then airlifted to Calgary Foothills Hospital.
“We’re seeing problems with cornices in spring,” said Statham, adding people heading to the backcountry should be aware of their surroundings for the next six to eight weeks.
In both areas, Statham said, these accidents have happened before and in both cases, people were killed.
Over the past three weeks, visitor safety specialists also responded to and rescued three people on Sulphur Mountain who became lost after going off trail.
