Kananaskis scrambler dies in avalanche
We have been experiencing summer like weather these last few weeks and have traded our skis for bikes, our jackets for t-shirts and our boots for sandals. It is easy to forget that while summer is in full swing in our valleys, spring remains at higher elevations. It is important to consider terrain and snow while hiking at this time of year. While the snowpack may be thinning it is still capable of producing large avalanches of all kinds. Full depth avalanches are possible and can reach beyond the snowline and in rare occasions they have been known to run full path well into the month of May. Surface avalanches like loose wet avalanches can be disastrous. Even a small avalanche can easily push you into terrain traps or over cliffs. When choosing a hike or scramble it is important to consider two things. Will you be in avalanche terrain? If so how can you mitigate your exposure?
Unfortunately on May 23 2016 a solo scrambler triggered an avalanche on Mt Lawson and was fatally buried as a result The hiker triggered a narrow size 2 loose wet avalanche which carried the subject over 500m and into a terrain trap where victim was buried. Kananaskis Public Safety was able to recover the victim on May 24th after receiving a call for an overdue hiker. A sobering reminder that we are only in the late stages of spring and these hazards still deserve our full attention.
From the MCR;
“Kananaskis Country Public Safety responded to a fatal avalanche incident on May 24, 2016 after receiving a report of an overdue scrambler from the day before. On May 23 a solo scrambler had planned a trip up Mt Lawson. The subject had made the summit and while on descent triggered a size 2.0 loose wet avalanche and was critically buried in a terrain trap. The avalanche was triggered on a NE aspect at approximately 2500m. The avalanche was quite narrow, but traveled over 500m vertical distance and funneled into a prominent gully feature lower on the mountain.
Cold and wet weather deposited up to 40cm of snow in the Alpine through much of the Kananaskis Region over the May long weekend. Numerous loose wet avalanches were observed today during the recovery operation and avalanche control work to protect the accident site produced several size 2.0 loose wet avalanches that ran a very long distance. This recent snow will take several days to stabilize. A very cautious and conservative approach to avalanche terrain is advised until this recent snow has a chance to stabilize.”