'Experienced' backcountry skier killed in B.C. avalanche was from Alaska: police
Police have identified the victim killed in an avalanche near Nelson, B.C. Saturday as a 32-year-old woman from Anchorage, Alaska.
The avalanche was triggered when the woman was backcountry skiing with two others near Qua Peak in Ymir, about 20 minutes south of Nelson, according to a release from Kootenay Boundary Regional District RCMP.
Around 9 a.m., when the group was descending a slope, "the snow broke way causing a large avalanche," which trapped all three skiers, said Sgt. Monty Taylor in the release.
All three were equipped with inflatable avalanche bags, which they deployed. Two of the skiers located each other and soon after, they found the third skier.
She was half-buried in the snow and unresponsive.
Group 'experienced,' say RCMP
"They radioed for help and the female was transported by helicopter into Nelson where she was pronounced dead," Taylor said.
All three were described as "experienced" backcountry skiers who had avalanche training and were equipped for backcountry skiing, he said.
Police have not released the deceased woman's name.
It was the group's last day of skiing after spending about a week in the area.
With files from the Canadian Press
