Historical Incidents

Incident Summary

Date

2023-03-01

Location

Coppercrown Mountain

Location Description

Approximately 30 km southwest of Invermere, BC

Province

BC

Coordinates

50.28909 °, -116.30243 °

Elevation

2500 m

Activity

Mechanized Skiing

Involvement

10

Injury

4

Fatality

3

Description

A group of 9 heli-skiers and one guide was skiing in the Coppercrown region, in the southeast corner of the tenure, on a run called Too Bad About the Skiing. The guide was regrouping higher up on the run, when the fifth person in the group triggered a settlement at the regroup, which initiated the avalanche above. The entire group was swept into the sparse forested area next to the larger avalanche path. Two guests were fully buried and were pronounced dead on the scene. Three other guests were partially buried and sustained critical injuries and one guest sustained non critical injuries. The guide was also partially buried and sustained critical injuries. All injured parties were airlifted to the Invermere Hospital. One of the critically injured guests succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and did not survive. The avalanche started in a treeline start zone, 50-100cm deep.