Near the head of Forster Creek just down from Thunderwater Lake approximately 35 km west of Radium Hot Springs.
Province
BC
Coordinates
50.65946 °, -116.56597 °
Elevation
2100 m
Activity
Snowmobiling
Involvement
1
Injury
0
Fatality
1
Description
A group of three snowmobilers were riding in an area below Thunderwater Lake in the Forster Creek drainage. One rider triggered an avalanche on a steep, rocky, northeast facing, wind-affected slope and was fully buried. A companion rescue was carried out with assistance from other riders in the area, but unfortunately the subject did not survive.
The avalanche was approximately 40 m wide with a crown depth of 50-60 cm and a run length of 300 m. The avalanche is believed to have released on a layer of facets buried at the end of January.