Prince George, B.C. – Two backcountry skiers sustained non-life threatening injuries in seperate avalanches in a mountainous area near Lillooet.

Lillooet RCMP, BC Ambulance and local Search and Rescue teams responded to the first report just before 3pm this afternoon.  RCMP say a male in his 30’s was caught in an avalanche while skiing in the Sunshine Mountain area, near Brelorne.  The skier was carried down the mountain, into trees and debris.

RCMP Senior Media Relations Officer, Corporal Dan Moskaluk, says the injured man had been with a group of skiers and snowmobilers at the time.  One member of the party travelled an hour-and-a-half to call for help.  Search and Rescue used a helicopter to locate and transport the man to hospital in Whistler.

Corporal Moskaluk says the second call for assistance came in at 3:30pm.  It had occurred near the first slide, and involved a group of eight self-guided ski touring skiers.  One skier was swept up, but his companions managed to rescue him.  The group called the Tyax Wilderness Resort for assistance – the resort sent its helicopter to pick up the injured man and, from the resort, he was transported to the hospital in Lillooet by BC Ambulance.  His injuries are non-life threatening as well.

"The RCMP would like to thank all professional and volunteer emergency personnel, along with TLH Heli-ski/Tyax Wilderness Resort and the other backcountry enthusiasts who assisted in today’s rescues," says Moskaluk.  "The immediate response by all certainly played a key role in the positive outcome in a bad situation."