AROLYN GRANT

bulletin@cyberlink.ca

A dramatic rescue by Kimberley Search and Rescue and the individual efforts of a backcountry skier's companion saved a life on Saturday in the Hell Roaring area up St. Mary Lake Road.

Peter Reid of Kimberley Search and Rescue says the call for service came through an emergency transceiver contacting 911 at about 5 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2012.

From there, Reid says, the rescue operation went "textbook perfect" and resulted in an injured backcountry skier being taken to East Kootenay Regional Hospital with a fractured lower leg, dislocated shoulder, lacerations to the face and head, but alive.

Two individuals, a 36 year old female from Cranbrook and a 35 year old male from Quick, B.C. - both experienced backcountry skiers - were involved in the incident, Reid says.

Reid says that the area, which is in the same drainage as an avalanche that took the life of a young Kimberley man two years ago, but not the same slope, is one of the more popular areas for backcountry recreation accessed from Kimberley, and is considered a relatively safe area.

"They are local residents and highly experienced backcountry skiers," Reid says. "An avalanche was triggered and he was caught in the slide. She found him at the toe of the slide and dug him out of about a meter and a half hole. She got him out and dressed him in all the clothing they had. She did an exceptional job. She's the hero of the day for sure."

Reid says both had transceivers.

Cpl. Chris Newel of the Kimberley RCMP says that the female then walked out to meet the search team.

"A team of approximately 15 SAR volunteers worked for several hours to get to the subject, stabilize him and then transport him back down to a waiting ambulance," Newel said. "The trailhead was located approximately 45 minutes up a remote snow covered logging road. From there the team used two snowmobiles and a snow cat to reach the victim, who was another five kilometres in the bush.

"KSAR went up alone with the RCMP as incident command," Reid said. "We have an organized avalanche team. We used our sno cat, which worked amazingly well. It was dark by the time we got there, so we couldn't use a helicopter."

Several things went very well in addition to the sno cat, he said. First of all the locator beacon put out an exact location and Hell Roaring Road was plowed which helped KSAR get in there faster.

"It's just good news all around. It was text book. Nothing went wrong. We even found their dog."

The couple was looking after the dog for friends, Newel said. Once the patient was in the ambulance the dog was located and brought out to the owners.

"The Kimberley SAR team did an amazing job under very adverse conditions assisting a seriously injured skier.," Newel said Their dedication and commitment to helping others is to be commended".

The female was also taken to East Kootenay Regional for evaluation but has no serious injuries.

Another skier this weekend was not so lucky. RCMP say on Friday February 3, 2012 at approximately 11:30 am, an avalanche occurred on Meadow Mountain near Kaslo, BC. A group of 8 - 9 skiers were part of a local wilderness skiing group business on Meadow Mountain when the avalanche occurred. One adult male was extricated from the snow and CPR performed by members of the group. Unfortunately, the male could not be revived. The deceased has been airlifted to the hospital in Nelson, BC.

The rest of the group, 3 staff and 5 - 6 skiers appear fine. No other injuries have been reported. What, if any, direct involvement that the other skiers had with the avalanche is not known at this time.

Avalanche conditions were described as considerable, though not extreme, at all elevations this weekend.