A Revelstoke heli-skiing company has shared that one of its guests died in an avalanche Thursday during a guided excursion in the Selkirk Mountains.
In a release sent to Black Press Media, Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing (STHS) reported that a Size 2 avalanche was triggered around 2 p.m. Feb. 19 by a guest skier on a guided tour east of Revelstoke, riding down a southeast aspect at 2,150 metres elevation.
“Tragically, that skier was overtaken by the avalanche and was buried by it,” read the release, which was prepared by PR agency Coast Communications and Public Affairs. “The Selkirk Tangiers team secured the guest, who was then flown to the Queen Victoria Hospital.”
STHS reported no other guests or guides were injured. However, it said it was saddened to share that the guest has since died.
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“It is impossible to put into words the sorrow we feel; that sadness is shared by everyone impacted as well as our staff,” Dave Pehowich, STHS general manager, said in the release. “Our guests are like family to us and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the guest who was lost and all involved.”
According to Revelstoke RCMP Cpl. Adam Phillippe, the detachment wasn’t notified about the incident until after, but the BC Coroners Service has already been notified and is actively engaged.
“We will assist the BC Coroners Service with the investigation,” Phillippe told Black Press Media.
He referred to the victim as male, noting him to be the only individual trapped in the avalanche. Phillippe reported that the skier was successfully extracted from the avalanche site but “ultimately succumbed to his injuries.”
“Our thoughts are with the family,” he said. “It’s a sad occasion.”
STHS prides itself on a culture of safety, training and protocol, the release mentioned, and thanks the agencies and its own team members who “jumped quickly into action when the avalanche struck” Thursday afternoon.
Michaela Konken, public relations consultant for Coast Communications, told Black Press Media an email from Pehowich indicated that STHS staff were the sole responders on site.
She was unable to confirm where in the Selkirks the avalanche occurred. STHS’s heli-ski tenure spans as far east as the Glacier National Park boundary, more than 45 kilometres from Revelstoke.
“Our guides are experts and undergo extensive training over many years to certify for their roles so they can minimize risks,” Pehowich added. “However, avalanches are one of many risks to people in mountains and, similar to many outdoor activities, it’s impossible to eliminate 100 per cent of the risks in the backcountry.”
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Owned by Northland Properties, STHS provides guests with helicopter access to more than 400 ski runs in more than 200,000 hectares of backcountry tenure.
The heli-ski company said it’s currently providing counsellors on site at the Coast Hillcrest Hotel, for any guests or staff needing support. It had also paused all its tour operations for Friday, Feb. 20, according to Konken.
“Not sure what the next couple days look like,” she said.
This is a developing story that Black Press Media will continue to follow.