Chetwynd Area Avalanche Victim Found
By 250 News
Monday, January 12, 2009 06:27 PM
Chetwynd, B.C.- The body of a 45 year old Rycroft, Alberta man has been recovered from an avalanche site near Chetwynd.
After an avalanche technician took a helicopter flight over the area earlier today and assessed the area as safe enough to enter, Search and Rescue entered the area and recovered the body.
The victim was one of more than a dozen snowmobilers who were recreating in the area south of Chetwynd yesterday when the avalanche hit.
Initially, five people were buried in the snow. The other riders dug them out, but one was deceased.
The riders left their deceased companion at the scene and left the area to get help as they were concerned another slide could take more lives.
The victim’s name has not been released.
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Posted by: lostfaith on January 13 2009 8:13 AM
Second, travel in avalanche terrain requires avalanche probes, a suitable beacon and a shovel and practiced skill in the use of each of these items. Even more than that suitable equipment, such travel requires good judgement in making intelligent assessment of snow pack safety and a willingness to speak up if you do not feel comfortable with the risk. Third, everyone travelling in avalanche should take an avalanche course and be very familar with the correct use of avalanche beacons. No one who cannot use a beacon correctly should be allowed to go on a trip that has any possibility of avalanche; however, that would be an educational issue, not something in law or regulation.
Forth, there is much debate about banning one or another activity, or item because of perceived risk, but if we governed our lives at the whim of the safety police, it would be a dull existence indeed. Most of us would not be able to drive our vehicles to indulge in these otherwise highly enjoyable activities because our automobiles would be likewise banned due to the staggering numbers of deaths in car accidents each year. It is not time in the mountains that is dangerous - it's the drive there and back that is statistically the real killer.