Eight Hikers in Kananaskis Involved in Avalanche

A group of eight hikers who were on Mount Lawson in Kananaskis Country were involved in a spring avalanche, two survivors sustained life-threatening injuries. Rescue crews transported three people to hospital.

The eight people were part of two families, one hiker was completely buried and dug out. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kananaskis Public Safety said the slide was triggered at around 2,800 metres and slid to below snow line.

The family were caught off guard while on a trail crossing a gully, no one in the group had avalanche safety gear. “It is still very snowy at higher elevations. Mountaineers/climbers/scramblers need to keep this in mind for the weeks to come,” the post warned. “A widespread avalanche cycle occurred yesterday afternoon with the warm temperatures and intense solar radiation, and this trend is likely to continue.”

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An avalanche incident occurred in the Rocky mountains yesterday when a party of scramblers was hit by an avalanche from above while they were near valley bottom. It’s still avalanche season in the high mountains, even if you are not actually on snow. Remember to keep an eye on slopes above that still have snow and to carry avalanche safety equipment #AvCan

A post shared by Avalanche Canada (@avalanchecanada) on May 12, 2019 at 12:40pm PDT

Spring avalanches will continue in the mountains for the next few weeks, so hikers and climbers should be prepared. “It may seem like summer in the valley, but there is still avalanche hazard in the mountains,” the post said.

It’s been a tragic spring in the Canadian Rockies, as David Lama, Jess Roskelley and Hansjorg Auer died in an avalanche on Howse Peak in April. Calgary skier and former CEO Dana Coffield was killed in an avalanche in Yoho National Park a few days later.

For tips and myths on avalanche safety visit here and be safe this spring.