Snowmobiler Dies in Kootenay Pass Avalanche Amid High Backcountry Risk

Fatal Avalanche in Kootenay Pass

A 23-year-old snowmobiler tragically died on Saturday, February 28, 2026, after being caught in an avalanche in the Kootenay Pass area of British Columbia. The incident occurred in the Selkirk mountain range, specifically under a transmission line behind Camel's Hump. This fatality marks the fifth avalanche-related death in British Columbia's backcountry this season.

Creston RCMP received an SOS signal from a Garmin device at approximately 12:10 p.m. MST on the day of the incident. Authorities were informed that two snowmobilers had been struck by an avalanche, with one individual unresponsive. Other snowmobilers in the vicinity were able to dig out both men. However, the 23-year-old man succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His name has not been publicly released.

Incident Details and Avalanche Classification

The avalanche was classified as a size 2.5 on the five-point destructive scale. Avalanche Canada defines a size 2.5 avalanche as large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. The snowmobilers reportedly triggered the slide themselves. Responding to the scene were Creston RCMP, local search and rescue teams, and BC Emergency Health Services.

Warnings Issued Amid Hazardous Conditions

The fatal incident has intensified warnings from avalanche experts regarding the precarious conditions in British Columbia's backcountry. Avalanche Canada forecasters, including Wendy Lewis, have described the danger levels in the Kootenay Pass region as 'considerable.' This assessment is attributed to recent storm snow adding stress to persistent weak layers buried within the snowpack.

Experts emphasize that B.C.'s snowpack this year is unusually weak and highly susceptible to avalanches. Shannon Kirkness, another forecaster with Avalanche Canada, characterized the current conditions as the 'perfect recipe' for avalanche activity, citing 'buried weak layers' from dry spells and a 'big stormy active period.'

Backcountry Safety Recommendations

Authorities and avalanche safety organizations are urging extreme caution for anyone venturing into the backcountry. Key recommendations include:

• Checking daily avalanche forecasts from Avalanche Canada before any trip.
• Avoiding exposure to avalanche terrain, especially when danger ratings are high.
• Sticking to non-avalanche terrain, such as low-angle slopes free from overhead hazards.
• Carrying essential safety gear, including a transceiver, shovel, and probe, and knowing how to use them.
• Adjusting plans and considering delaying trips to the mountains during periods of heightened risk.

Forecasters also note that March is historically the month with the highest number of fatal avalanches in Canada, further underscoring the need for vigilance. The day prior to this incident, a 15-year-old skier also died in an avalanche in the Nakiska ski area in Alberta, highlighting a broader pattern of elevated risk across Western Canada.