Revelstoke avalanche claims one and injures 12 during competition (updated)

Boulder mountain avalanche claims a life and injures 12.

Revelstoke RCMP.

At 3:33 pm on Saturday March 13th 2010, the Revelstoke RCMP received reports of an avalanche occurring on Boulder Mountain near Revelstoke, during a snowmobile competition attended by approximately 200 persons in the area. A large scale rescue operation commenced and is continuing.

Revelstoke RCMP have confirmed as of 6:45 pm that one person is deceased, with 12 injured also confirmed.  Emergency rescue efforts are continuing.

“We do know that there were approximately 200 people attending an annual snowmobiling event known as “The Big Iron Shoot out”, in the Turbo Bowl area on Boulder Mountain.  We had a tremendous number of emergency rescue assets deployed from the onset of this tragic incident.

There are currently 4 Provincial Search and Rescue teams deployed; Revelstoke, Golden, Arrow Lakes and Nelson.  The RCMP Police Service Avalanche trained canine units along side with other Provincial Emergency assets have been engaged.  Revelstoke RCMP continue to coordinate the rescue effort in conjunction with the Provincial Emergency Coordination Center.”

The Boulder Mountain area has been closed off to assist with the rescue effort and we request that the general public keep the area and nearby highways clear for the ongoing rescue effort”.

More details to follow as the rescue operation continues.

Update – 2010-03-13 21:50 PST

At this point RCMP can confirm three (3) people are deceased.

We continue to have a tremendous number of emergency rescue assets deployed to assist with this tragic incident. Emergency rescue efforts are continuing.

Update 2010-03-14 07:34 PDT

The rescue/recovery effort continues this am. The RCMP has examined previously reported information and as of 7:00 a.m. March 14th, have confirmed the following; 2 males deceased, 30 injured as a result of the avalanche.

19 persons were released from hospital with 1 person remaining in critical and 3 individuals in serious condition. These four individuals have all been transferred to Kamloops Royal Inlands Hospital, Kelowna General, Vernon Regional and Calgary Foothills hospital for care.

Avalanche Technicians with Parks Canada along with the BC Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel are flying over the slide site this morning to properly assess the safety levels for ground searchers to enter the location. Local air assets of 3 helicopters from Alpine Helicopters and Selkirk Mtn Helicopters are assisting with the task today. The RCMP Air Services Air 3 from the Southeast District is also assisting.

Once the area is deemed safe, the 4 SAR Teams comprising of approximately 40-50 teams members will continue to conduct a search for recovery/rescue utilizing beacon signal search, probe and search dogs and will be assisted by 9 Parks Canada avalanche technicians/rescuers. 5 avalanche trained canine assets from the RCMP (1), Parks Canada (1) and Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) (3) will also be deployed.

There is an air restriction area NOTAM for the Boulder Mountain area of radius of 5 kilometers.

Local and supporting RCMP units worked throughout the night conducting hotel and accommodation canvassing in order to determine the numbers of persons possibly still outstanding and unaccounted for, this remains to be completed today.

We do ask that anyone who was attending the event and who made there way safely off of the mountain, to attend the Revelstoke Community Center located at 600 Campbell Ave today, in addition to those who have equipment/property or machines still at the site. The RCMP would like to compile this information in order to assist with accounting of still missing persons and to ease the eventual return of equipment.

Update 2010-03-14 11:39 PDT

Shortly after 10:00 am, ground search groups were bourght back into the slide area of Turbo Bowl Boulder Mtn in order to conduct a line probe search of the avalanche debri area.

Parks Canada Avalanche Technicians and BC Search and Rescue personnel conducted an arial assessment of the area and deemed it safe for the re-insertion of ground searchers. Shortly after 10:00am today the search resumed, with probe line and avalanche search dogs being utilized.

Update 2010-03-14 14:03 PDT

The Revelstoke RCMP are confirming that ground search efforts continue at the site of the avalanche. British Columbia Solicitor-General Kash Heed will be attending the site at 2:30 local time.

He will then be attending an update press conference at 3:00 with participating rescue agencies at the Revelstoke Community Centre, 600 Campbell Way.

Update 2010-03-14 20:28 PDT

The search effort has concluded for today at Boulder Mtn. Ground searchers were able to remove all surface debris from the slide area which will permit avalanche dog teams to continue to search, less hindered by contaminated surface debris (human scent). No further sign was indicated by the avalanche dog units today, nor any further recoveries. The search will resume on Monday morning, March 15th.

The RCMP had confirmed that all persons on the accumulated lists which had been compiled have now been accounted for. No missing persons reports were received in connection to the event. Investigators were able to locate all registered owners of vehicles noted in the mountain area parking lots.

Our deepest condolences are extended to the two Alberta area families for their loss of loved ones.

Police and the BC Coroners Service have completed the contact of next of kin of the following, confirming the deceased as follows:

• 33 year old Curtis Reynolds of Strathmore, AB
• 33 year old Shay Snortland of Lacombe, AB

The BC Coroners Service and the Revelstoke RCMP are investigating all aspects of this incident, including the deaths of Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Snortland.

RCMP Major Crimes Unit assigned to investigate incident

Update 2010-03-16 07:18 PDT

The search and recovery effort on Boulder Mountain was completed and concluded Monday afternoon March 15th, 2010, with officials re-opening access to the area.

The search was stood down after Search and Rescue teams, which included 4 Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dogs Association teams (CARDA) and 1 RCMP avalanche trained Police Service Dog team found no further sign of persons remaining trapped.

“Again we have to recognize and thank the countless resources from a variety of public safety emergency personnel, including a large team of volunteers who all in a moments notice committed themselves to the emergency effort. These are all British Columbians from a variety of communities who came when called to respond. All are saddened by the deaths, which occurred and offer their condolences to the families affected.

“All recognize, that we were prepared to respond to the worst case scenario. This preparation included, the setting up of a large temporary morgue at a private air hangar. It is with a feeling of great relief and somewhat disbelief, that all we saw it utilized for was for the safe storage of broken snowmobiles waiting to be retrieved by owners and not with rows of bodies waiting to be identified by loved ones,” — Cpl Dan Moskaluk

The RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit has been assigned to the investigation. A team of 10 investigators arrived Monday afternoon to commence their tasks into examining the March 13th snowmobiling deaths of the 2 Alberta males and the injuries to numerous persons on Boulder Mountain, Revelstoke.

“The aim of the investigation is to gather all available information regarding this incident, with a purview that includes the death of Shay Snortland, Kurtis Reynolds and the injuries to persons which occurred at Boulder Mountain on March 13th”, stated Cpl Moskaluk.

“If evidence to support a charge under the Criminal Code is obtained, a report will be forwarded to Crown Counsel recommending criminal charges. Given the number of people that attended this event, and the uniqueness of the circumstances, it will be a lengthy and complex investigation. Seeing that we are dedicated to completing a thorough investigation, it will take some time to complete” added Cpl Moskaluk.