THE CANADIAN PRESS
WHISTLER, B.C. - British Columbia started the New Year with the deaths of two more people in avalanches, the latest tragedies coming just days after a disastrous slide killed eight snowmobilers and left a small community in shock.
The deaths of two more men, in the popular Whistler-Blackcomb resort area, served yet another sign that the province's mountains are especially treacherous this season.A 26-year-old snowboarder was killed Thursday afternoon on Whistler Mountain, the RCMP said in a news release.
The snowboarder was by himself and in an area marked off-limits when he was buried, the release said.
That boarder was killed hours after searchers found the body of a 37-year-old skier from Whistler, who was caught in an avalanche on adjacent Blackcomb Mountain the evening before.
The man, who police described as an experienced skier, was also in an area that was out of bounds due to elevated avalanche risk.
Whistler Blackcomb spokeswoman whistler Amber Turnau referred calls to the RCMP, and would only say there was an "incident" on Wednesday in an out-of-bounds area.
The resort town's mayor, Ken Melamed, said it's clear this season is particularly dangerous.
"Avalanches are extremely common on the mountains, but the mountains manage that risk," Melamed said in an interview.
"The particular conditions we have at the moment are not your normal coastal snowpack. It might be taking some of the skiers by surprise."
The avalanches came days after the deaths of eight men in southwestern B.C. shocked the country and made headlines around the world.
The men were among 11 snowmobilers caught in back-to-back avalanches while riding in the area's backcountry near Fernie.
Three men survived and left their friends behind after they decided it was too dangerous to stay.
All 11 men were from nearby Sparwood, B.C., a tight-knit mining community of about 4,000 people that has been left devastated by the tragedy.
A public memorial is scheduled for Sunday in Sparwood, while private funeral services are also planned.
There are currently avalanche warnings in place for much of southern B.C., including both Whistler and Fernie.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre issued an updated avalanche warning on Thursday, saying that a weak snowpack has created fragile conditions.
The centre said clear skies forecasted for the coming weekend will likely bring more people into the backcountry, increasing the risk that someone could be caught up in an avalanche.
Melamed said ski operations in the area are very good at reducing avalanche risk with methods such as blasting, or restricting areas that are still dangerous.
