1 person dead in avalanche near Joffre Lakes Park in B.C.’s Sea-to-Sky region

One person has died in an avalanche while backcountry skiing near Joffre Peak, near the popular Joffre Lakes Park in B.C.’s Sea-to-Sky region, on Tuesday.

Pemberton RCMP officers were notified of a missing person around 2 p.m. PT on Tuesday, and say they were in the backcountry near Joffre Peak located near Mount Matier, east of Pemberton.

The individual was skiing near the Anniversary Glacier which is near Joffre Peak.

RCMP Insp. Robert Dykstra said there was an avalanche in the area where the person was believed to be.

“Pemberton SAR located the missing person deceased and recovery is ongoing,” Dykstra told CBC News on Tuesday evening.

Avalanche Canada has confirmed it was made aware of an avalanche near Pemberton.

The fatality is B.C.’s fourth of this avalanche season, and the third in the last week.

It comes after a skier died after being buried in an avalanche east of Revelstoke, B.C., on Thursday.

Last Tuesday, a snowmobiler died after he was caught up in an avalanche near Fernie.

In December, another snowmobiler died in an avalanche near Tumbler Ridge in northeast B.C.

Considerable risk

Officials warned of avalanche danger spiking across southwest B.C. after a storm over the weekend.

A high avalanche danger rating was in place on Monday for the Sea-to-Sky area, which was adjusted to a considerable risk on Tuesday.

Considerable avalanche danger is the third-highest risk category on a scale of five, with “high” and “extreme” the fourth and fifth steps.

Avalanche Canada says that avalanche risk remains considerable for alpine terrain throughout southwest B.C. on Tuesday.

“Avalanche danger may spike on Wednesday afternoon with new snow and strong winds,” forecasters said on Tuesday.

Joffre Peak is located within the popular Joffre Lakes Park, which saw an average of 180,000 annual visitors in 2021, before day-use passes were required.