December 29, 2011 Whistler Avalanche Accident

anyone have more details on an avalanche accident in the Whistler BC today supposedly involving several patrollers? 2nd or 3rd hand information given to me, anyone have information?

www.theprovince.com/sports/Search+begins...y/5925602/story.html

Haven't heard of an avalanche in the Whistler backcountry, but the TV news just had a brief segment about an avalanche near Pemberton. A Google search turned up this article among many others:

www.vancouversun.com/news/Avalanche+near...r/5925660/story.html


Edit to add: Clearly, anything within 50+ km of Whistler counts as "near Whistler" or the "Whistler backcountry" in the news media. Caspar Creek is about 50 km NE of Whistler as the crow flies, but much farther by road.

I believe this is the avalanche you are referring to, I just read about it now. unofficialnetworks.com/whistler-ski-patr...ies-avalanche-62529/

Please forgive the copy and paste, I share for those who do not want to go offsite. Thoughts go out to the family of Duncan.

"It has been confirmed that Whistler Blackcomb ski patroller Duncan Mackenzie, 30, has been identified as the skier killed in the avalanche last night near Pemberton. He died about 25km north of Pemberton, BC near Caspar Creek, after being injured in an avalanche and being stuck in the backcountry for much of the night. Rescue efforts were slowed due to weather."

"Apparently the skier was caught in an avalanche on Thursday afternoon around 3:30pm during the group’s last run of the day. The slide swept through the party of four skiers, but Duncan was the only one taken for a ride (CBC News)"

Very sad news that he did not survive the night. Much more detailed info in this article from CBC:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/...lache-pemberton.html