Two people are dead after an avalanche swept through the Burstall Pass area of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country on Saturday (Jan. 15) afternoon.
The pair were backcountry skiing when the size three avalanche began at approximately 3:45 p.m.
The two male individuals are believed to be in their 40s and are not being identified by RCMP at this time. Neither were wearing transceivers at the time.
Three others were not caught in the medium sized avalanche and reported it to Kananaskis Public Safety and RCMP who immediately responded by helicopter to the scene.
One of the two victims was located on Saturday but rescuers were unable to remove him due to darkness and avalanche danger.
On Sunday (Jan. 16) morning public safety specialists located and recovered both individuals using a helicopter and search dog team.
The avalanche started at the 2,400 metre level, at the tree line on an
east facing slope.
The group was approximately seven kilometres into the backcountry from Highway #742.
Burstall Pass is listed as a class two backcountry route that is exposed to a well-defined avalanche path and terrain that requires skill to recognize and avoid avalanche prone areas.
