Snowmobiler killed in avalanche near Alberta’s Castle Mountain ski resort

One man has died after being buried by an avalanche while snowmobiling in the backcountry near Castle Mountain ski resort in the Alberta Rockies close to the B.C. border, says Alberta RCMP.

The man, who RCMP have identified as a 46-year-old from Magrath, Alta., was snowmobiling with another adult male and two children on Saturday, when an avalanche occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. MT.

In a statement, RCMP said that the two children were able to escape with one of the adult males, but the other was buried in the snow.

Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek RCMP received a report of the avalanche later that day at 5:22 p.m. from the adult male who survived. According to a spokesperson with the Alberta RCMP, crews did not begin a search-and-rescue effort at that time because it was nearing sunset.

A search was instead launched at daylight on Sunday, said the RCMP spokesperson, and included members of the Pincher Creek RCMP, the Southwestern Alberta Regional Search and Rescue, a K9 and handler from Fernie Search and Rescue, and Alberta Conservation.

The body of the missing male was retrieved just before 1.30 p.m. on Sunday.

Earlier this month, a man was left stranded in an out-of-bounds area at Castle Mountain Resort after being caught in an avalanche.