Highwood Pass skier rescued from avalanche
A skier buried by an avalanche in Kananaskis Country on Saturday was quickly pulled out by the rest of his group, and is now being treated in a Calgary hospital.
The avalanche happened in the Arethusa Cirque area in Highwood Pass.
Kananaskis Country Public Safety (KCPS) responded to the activation of a satellite tracking device, the rescue organization said in a social media post Sunday.
The group of three ski tourers triggered a size 2 avalanche while bootpacking up a gully, according to KCPS.
“One skier managed to avoid the avalanche by running to the side, one was caught and partially buried and a third was fully buried,” the rescue organization said.
“The fully buried skier was quickly extricated by members of the party and stabilized as best as they could before public safety staff were able to get to the scene.”
One patient was transported down the slope by Alpine Helicopters and flown down to paramedics, then was taken by air ambulance to the Foothills Hospital.
EMS said Saturday the backcountry skier suffered serious injuries.
“All agencies were able to work very quickly to execute a successful rescue,” said Stuart Brideaux with EMS.
All the skiers were wearing beacons, shovels and probes, KCPS said.