UPDATE: Alberta resident dies in backcountry avalanche near Golden B.C.

A 29-year-old male snowboarder from Alberta has died in an avalanche near Golden B.C.

Golden and District Search and Rescue said Friday afternoon they responded to an avalanche just west of Golden near the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The avalanche occurred out-of-bounds beyond the boundary of the ski resort.

The man, who has not yet been named, was reported missing by a fellow snowboarder.

Police activated the Provincial Emergency Plan immediately and Golden Search and Rescue responded. They found the man and transported him to Golden Hospital, but he did not survive his injuries.

According to the Canadian Avalanche Centre, there is a considerable risk of an avalanche in the Purcell mountain range alpine where Kicking Horse Mountain is located.

The CAC said careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding and conservative decision making is essential in the dangerous avalanche conditions.

“New snow with moderate to strong westerly winds have created dense wind slabs in exposed lee terrain and cross-loaded features. Rider triggering is possible, particularly in steep unsupported terrain,” said a bulletin on the CAC website.

At the treeline there is a moderate avalanche risk, and below the treeline there is a low risk.

The BC Coroner Services with the assistance of the RCMP,  has taken over this investigation.