Incident Summary
- Date
- 2025-03-14
- Location
- Black Prince
- Location Description
- Black Prince backcountry ski area in Kananaskis Country
- Province
- AB
- Coordinates
- 50.71167 °, -115.23117 °
- Elevation
- 2100 m
- Activity
- Backcountry Skiing
- Involvement
- 1
- Injury
- 0
- Fatality
- 1
- Description
- Kananaskis Mountain Rescue responded to an incident on an east aspect at 2100 m, near the Black Prince backcountry ski area. Skier one skied the slope, triggering an avalanche which was 100 m wide and failed on a layer 80-100 cm deep. The weak layer comprised of facets over a crust which formed at the end of January. The skier was carried down the slope for 50-80 m. The other three skiers in the party skied down, located the skier, and called for help. Kananaskis Mountain Rescue responded, provided medical assistance, and evacuated the skier to Emergency Medical Services. The skier did not survive.
Avalanches
| Date/Time | Size | Type | Trigger | Elevation | Aspect | Slab width | Slab Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | S | Sa | 2100 m | E | 100 m | - |
Weather
| Present Temp | Max Temp | Min Temp | 24hr Trend | Wind Speed | Wind Direction | Sky Condition | Precipitation Type & Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Snowpack
| Snowpack | 24hr Snow | Storm Snow | Storm Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - |
Documents
| Document Date | Title | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-14 | Image of the avalanche path taken from the rescue helicopter. The lower red outline indicates the avalanche the skier was caught in. The smaller upper outline indicates a second avalanche which released sympathetically to the main avalanche. | Kananaskis Country | view |
| 2025-03-14 | Image of avalanche crown, which appears to be around 1 m deep. An unusual feature is the number of the trees in the start zone. | Kananaskis Country | view |