2 people dead after Friday avalanches in Alberta: RCMP

Two skiiers died from separate avalanche incidents near Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country in Alberta on Friday afternoon, RCMP say.

According to a Parks Canada report, one avalanche happened at 3 p.m. MT near Pipestone Bowl, an area outside the Lake Louise Ski Resort. About an hour later, RCMP received a report of another avalanche in a back-country area near Mount Black Prince.

Near the Lake Louise Ski area, two people were skiing in the area when one of them triggered the avalanche, Parks Canada said. The skier was reportedly carried 50 metres by the avalanche and buried in 150-200 cm of snow.

The second skier searched the area using a transceiver, pulled the first skier out and began first aid, the agency said. Parks Canada Visitor Safety then brought the two to EMS.

RCMP confirmed that one skier died as a result of the incident and next of kin have not yet been notified. Officers responded to the reported avalanche at around 3:45 p.m.

According to Parks Canada, the region is currently at a "high" avalanche risk (Level 4) in the alpine elevation, and at "considerable" risk (Level 3) in and below the treeline.

Danger ratings are based on a five-level scale, with 1 being low risk and 5 being extreme risk.

"We want people to know that the resort is open, the avalanche was not at the resort and that we'll be open as usual. And we hope for the best for the people involved in the incident," said Dan Markham, communications director for Lake Louise Ski Resort.

The Lake Louise Fire Department, Search and Rescue, local Ski Patrol, employees of the resort, EMS, Parks Canada and STARS Air Ambulance all responded to the avalanche.

Police are asking anyone with information about people who were expected to be at or around the resort to contact Lake Louise RCMP or local police. Officers say the investigation is ongoing.

Kananaskis avalanche

Police confirmed Saturday morning that a 34-year-old woman also died while skiing in Alberta on Friday.

Cochrane and Stoney Nakoda RCMP were notified of a second avalanche around 4 p.m. Friday, when they responded to assist Kananaskis Mountain Rescue and Kananaskis Emergency Services, after a report of an avalanche in a back-country area off of Highway 742 near Mount Black Prince.

Police said its investigation found four people were skiing when the avalanche hit and carried away the 34-year-old Calgary resident, before she was buried in the snow.

First responders later declared the woman dead, despite the other three skiers' efforts to provide medical attention and send an SOS beacon to notify emergency responders.