We are relieved to learn that the 5 skiers stranded in the Revelstoke backcountry were recovered safely by Revelstoke Search and Rescue.
Update according to the Revelstoke Times Review:
The body of a man who died in avalanche near Ghost Peak on Sunday and his five companions, who survived, were retrieved from the mountains southeast of Revelstoke Tuesday morning by Revelstoke Search and Rescue.
[Search and Rescue] confirmed that the five survivors were evacuated from the area by helicopter at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The body of the lone victim was retrieved about an hour later.
Six [Search and Rescue] members took part in the operation.
Greater Revelstoke area: Ghost Peak is marked by the "A" pin on on the map (image: google maps)
Story from earlier today:
A party of six skiers were touring in the Ghost Peak area located to the East of Mt. Cartier in the Revelstoke backcountry (Eastern British Columbia) on Sunday, March 11th when an avalanche struck the group. At least one member of the party was buried by the slide. The other skiers were able to locate the victim with avalanche transceivers and dig him out but the skier did not survive.
Revelstoke RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) received the distress call at 4:40 pm on Sunday. Revelstoke Search and Rescue attempted to reach the group but the helicopter was only able to circle above and surveill the scene due to high winds. The rescue team was unable to deliver supplies to the stranded party.
The touring group had reportedly been dropped off in the region by helicopter but the group was not part of a commercially guided ski tour.
Revelstoke RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Jacquie Olsen said many details remain sketchy at this point because communications are hampered. “They have a [satellite] phone [but] we’re having difficulties contacting them,” she said. “They power it off when they don’t need it.”
The other five skiers touring with the man remain stranded at the scene. They are sure to spend at least [Monday night] on the mountain, and possibly more nights due to an impending storm. “The long-range forecast for this whole area is ugly,” Olsen said. “Trust me, they’re not going to move. There’s no way out of there.”
The Ghost Peak area is a series of rocky alpine peaks and valleys visible from sidecountry terrain on Mt. Mackenzie near Revelstoke Mountain Ski Resort. High winds forced the closure of the upper mountain at Revelstoke on Monday and conditions are expected to deteriorate in the coming days.
Mount MacKenzie, Revelstoke BC (image: panoramio.com)
Wind gusts reached upwards of 80 km/hr on Monday and the wind chill factor was below -20 C (-4 F) at the higher elevations.
According to Revelstoke RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Olsen, the group was carrying shelter, food and supplies for a multi-day backcountry ski tour. The group is encamped in a yurt and is expected to be able to weather the storm in safety. It is unclear if any of the other skiers were injured in the avalanche but according to Olsen there are no indications that the remaining 5 skiers suffered injuries.
Revelstoke Search and Rescue is making an attempt to reach the stranded party today (Tuesday) and another potential weather window exists tomorrow (Wednesday).
On Sunday the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s bulletin for the area had placed avalanche danger at “high” in the alpine above treeline and “considerable” below the treeline.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre had issued a special advisory on Friday, March 9th for conditions heading into the weekend.
Image: Canadian Avalanche Centre
This story will be updated as details of the incident and rescue become available. For more information visit revelstoketimesreview.com
Scary. Hang in there folks.
Someone forgot to check the weather before going out to play.
Ya right. Like the weather never changes in the mountains dumbass. Oh, and weather forecasts are always accurate for multi-day tours. Go ski at your hill where it’s safe and try to be more respectful and less ignorant.
If you are going into back country …be prepared…
dont be a dumb ass… and then all the rescuers have to put their lives in jeopardy to rescue the dumb asses…. sad…
sounds like thats exactly what these people did. they have food, shelter and a satellite phone which they are conserving the batteries to. can you say the same about your last touring trip?
I think a lot of people plan trips, months in advance, then have it in their head that they are going to do it, even if conditions are not safe. Our crew simply never plans, if the conditions are right, we head for it, if not, well we stay in bed and sleep, work, resort ski or surf unofficial.
Just wanted to let you know the victim and survivors were heli-lifted off the mountain this morning.
http://www.revelstoketimesreview.com/news/142410515.html
Stoked to hear they got them out.