Man dug out after skier triggers avalanche on Cypress Mountain

VANCOUVER — Rescue officials say skiers rescued from an avalanche in Cypress Provincial Park could have died had they not been carrying proper gear.

North Shore Rescue posted on its Facebook page that the men were in the backcountry on Hollyburn Mountain when one of the skiers triggered an avalanche.

He was swept down about 120 metres, over a cliff and was buried in the Tony Baker Gully.

They said the second skier found his partner using a beacon and probe, and then dug through nearly two metres of snow to reach his face so he could breathe.

North Shore Rescue sent crews to locate the pair and provide medical care at the scene until they could be airlifted out.

The skier had multiple injuries from the slide, prompting rescue crews to fly him to hospital rather than wait to transfer him to an ambulance. North Shore Rescue said the man is in hospital in serious condition.

They said he would have died had the pair not been trained to respond to an avalanche and carry the necessary equipment.

The second victim was seen walking after the rescue.

Avalanche Canada had issued warnings for the alpine and treeline areas of South Coast mountains, including Cypress, this weekend. The organization said naturally occurring avalanches were possible, while human-triggered events were likely.

The organization also reported an avalanche on the backside of the mountain on Friday.

WHISTLER — RCMP said a man died after an avalanche near Whistler on Saturday.

Sgt. Annie Linteau said police were notified about a slide at Callaghan Valley just before noon.

She said 14 people were reported to be involved at the time the avalanche occurred.

RCMP and Whistler Search and Rescue sent crews to the remote location, which could only be accessed by helicopter and snowmobile.

Linteau said the body of a 32-year-old man was recovered shortly before 4 p.m.

No one else suffered serious injuries.