Avalanche Canada warns backcountry users that snow conditions across the Rockies remain highly unstable, with human-triggered avalanches likely. After a week of widespread natural avalanche activity, the risk of further slides remains significant, requiring strict terrain discipline.
Two Avalanche Fatalities on Friday
Authorities have confirmed two fatal avalanches in Alberta’s mountain parks on March 14, one near Lake Louise and the other in Kananaskis Country.
Lake Louise Fatality
Avalanche Canada reports that two skiers had completed a run in Pipestone Bowl, a popular backcountry area outside Lake Louise Ski Resort, and were making their way back to the ski area using skins on their downhill gear. At approximately 3:00 p.m., they triggered an avalanche that propagated into steeper terrain above them.
The slide, classified by Avalanche Canada as a size 2.5 avalanche, carried one skier 50 metres downslope before burying him between 150 and 200 cm deep. His partner conducted a transceiver search, dug him out, and initiated first aid while calling 911.
Parks Canada Visitor Safety teams responded and evacuated the skier to Emergency Medical Services, but he did not survive.
Lake Louise RCMP, ski patrol, and emergency responders assisted at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
Kananaskis Country Fatality
At approximately 4:00 p.m., just an hour after the Lake Louise slide, a second fatal avalanche occurred in a backcountry area off Highway 742 near Mount Black Prince in Kananaskis Country.
According to RCMP, a group of four skiers was in the area when an avalanche struck, carrying a 34-year-old Calgary woman downslope before burying her.
The group immediately activated an SOS beacon, alerting emergency responders, and made every effort to locate and provide medical aid to the woman. However, when Kananaskis Mountain Rescue and emergency crews arrived, she was declared deceased at the scene.
Avalanche Canada later classified the slide as a size 2.5 avalanche that occurred on a north-east-facing 35+ degree slope at 2,200 metres. The slide was 100 metres wide and is believed to have failed on the Jan. 30 persistent weak layer, which was buried one metre deep in places.
Avalanche Conditions in Banff and Kananaskis
Avalanche Canada continues to report highly unstable snow conditions across Banff National Park. Parks Canada has intermittently closed areas for avalanche control, including the use of explosives in some locations.
Additional recent avalanche activity includes:
- A size 1.5 deep persistent slab reported below treeline in Lake Louise on Sunday.
- A size 2.5 avalanche triggered with explosives by Sunshine Village patrol in an alpine feature.
Avalanche Canada warns that new slab avalanches are being observed daily, highlighting an unsettled and reactive snowpack. A size 3 wind slab avalanche off Mt. Burstall’s east aspect recently ran into French Creek, with the crown still visible from the Spray Highway.
Alongside the fatal Black Prince avalanche, another size 1.5 skier-triggered avalanche was reported nearby on a south-east aspect at 2,300 metres, failing on the same weak layer.
In Kananaskis, a major storm cycle over the past six days has deposited 60 to 100 cm of new snow, now settling with warmer temperatures.
- On solar aspects, this new snow sits over a March crust.
- On polar aspects, it rests atop facets and hard wind slabs.
- Wind slabs (10 to 30 cm thick) have developed and remain reactive to skier traffic.
- Deeper in the snowpack, the Jan. 30 facet layer, buried 60 to 90 cm deep, continues to produce sudden collapse shears in stability tests.
- A failure in surface wind slabs could step down to this deeper weak layer, increasing the likelihood of large avalanches.
Forecasters stress that conservative terrain choices are essential. Low-angle, well-supported terrain is recommended.
Temperatures will be slightly cooler than seasonal, with valley lows just below freezing and ridge-top temperatures dropping to -15°C. Convective flurries and intermittent snow showers are expected Monday, though accumulation will be minimal. Winds will be moderate from the west.
Authorities stress that backcountry users should exercise extreme caution, carry avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel), and check current conditions before heading out.
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