A snowboarder was airlifted out of the British Columbia backcountry after a fall that left them unable to move, Comox Valley Search and Rescue said on its Facebook page.
Heavy snow and fog made it “impossible” for helicopters to fly into the area late Sunday afternoon. Search and rescue used snowmobiles and skis to get to the injured rider around 1:30 a.m. They built snow caves to protect everyone from the elements, and performed first aid on the snowboarder. When the heavy weather broke, a helicopter crew used a long-line to remove the snowboarder.
Photo: Comox Valley Search & Rescue
The call was Comox Valley Search and Rescue’s second of the weekend.
“This is an important reminder about the risks of backcountry travel in winter.
Preparation is key,” the Facebook post said. “Carry the essentials, including proper clothing, headlamps, and emergency gear for overnight survival.”
The post also stresses the importance of checking the forecasts and avalanche conditions through Avalanche Canada before venturing out, and of course, bringing a beacon, probe, and shovel, and knowing how to use them.
“Oh… and don’t forget a reliable communication device and a battery pack, as cell coverage is unavailable in much of the backcountry,” the post says. “Winter conditions can escalate quickly, and rescues may take hours—or even overnight, as this weekend’s experience showed. Adequate preparation and self-rescue skills can make all the difference.”
Photo: Comox Valley Search and Rescue.
Though it is no substitution for an actual Level 1 avalanche training course hosted by AIARE, Avalanche Canada does have an introductory course on its website for riders to take a look at before that go off into the backcountry.
Riders can also take the Avy Savvy online tutorial before enrolling in a training course. Avalanche.org also has an interactive tutorial on its website that gives prospective backcountry riders some basic knowledge. In the U.S., avalanches kill between 25 and 30 people each winter, and injure many more.
“Some days are dangerous and some days are not,” Avalanche.org says on its website. “Learning about avalanches will help you decide when, where, and how to visit the backcountry.”