Four hikers die in Canada after avalanche hits popular trail

[webfact]

Four hikers die in Canada after avalanche hits popular trail

REUTERS

 

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police have recovered the bodies of four hikers who went missing on Saturday when an avalanche hit a popular trail north of Vancouver and were still searching for one missing person, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement on Sunday.

 

RCMP received a distress call on Saturday from one hiker after a cornice collapsed on the peak of Mount Harvey, which is situated 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) north of Vancouver, in the Lions Bay area. The hiker spotted footprints leading to the summit and was concerned for the safety anyone who was in the area, RCMP said.

 

A cornice is an overhanging mass of ice created by high winds.

 

CBC News, citing one rescue team member, said the group may have fallen as much as 500 meters (1,640 feet) when the cornice collapsed.

 

Canada suffered one of its deadliest avalanches on New Year's Day of 1999, when nine people were killed in Kangiqsualujjuaq, an Inuit village in Northern Quebec, according to the Calgary Herald.

 

(Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-10

[phantomfiddler]

Has anyone ever considered the use of airbags in avalanche prone areas ? Just a though, after all it should be a matter of specific gravity. If the spec. gravity of the hiker+airbag is less than that of the surrounding snow mass they should "float" to the top and stand a much higher chance of survival and/or rescue.

[ilostmypassword]

5 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

Has anyone ever considered the use of airbags in avalanche prone areas ? Just a though, after all it should be a matter of specific gravity. If the spec. gravity of the hiker+airbag is less than that of the surrounding snow mass they should "float" to the top and stand a much higher chance of survival and/or rescue.

except that snow is a solid, not a liquid.

[dddave]

They actually do have instantly inflatable avalanche survival suits.  Though standing snow is a solid, snow moving in an avalanche acts like a liquid. If you were check out avalanche survival techniques, a swimming motion is one method often suggested.

[ilostmypassword]

21 minutes ago, dddave said:

They actually do have instantly inflatable avalanche survival suits.  Though standing snow is a solid, snow moving in an avalanche acts like a liquid. If you were check out avalanche survival techniques, a swimming motion is one method often suggested.

Interesting.

[Ulic]

17 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

Has anyone ever considered the use of airbags in avalanche prone areas ? Just a though, after all it should be a matter of specific gravity. If the spec. gravity of the hiker+airbag is less than that of the surrounding snow mass they should "float" to the top and stand a much higher chance of survival and/or rescue.

It was not an avalanche that killed them it was a 500 meter drop when the cornice they were on broke away. Also the missing 5th hiker has been found and body recovered. RIP and condolences to family and friends.

[Stargeezr]

It is early Spring time in Canada, and is know as avalance season, as well.    Hiking in the mountains in the Summer when the snow is gone, is a much safer activity, Just saying!  Well unless you meet a grizzly bear.

Geezer

[jerojero]

Has anyone ever considered the use of airbags in avalanche prone areas ? Just a though, after all it should be a matter of specific gravity. If the spec. gravity of the hiker+airbag is less than that of the surrounding snow mass they should "float" to the top and stand a much higher chance of survival and/or rescue.

Avalanches travel up to 100 mph. You're not floating anywhere when that massive wall of snow plows you over!

[Dipterocarp]

7 hours ago, dddave said:

They actually do have instantly inflatable avalanche survival suits.  Though standing snow is a solid, snow moving in an avalanche acts like a liquid. If you were check out avalanche survival techniques, a swimming motion is one method often suggested.

The avalungs and now inflation packs have helped people survive avalanches. But they must be used with beacons, and in only in teams/guided mountaineers trained in their use and avalanche rescue. The ideal is to use knowledge and experience to AVOID slides and other mountain hazards.

[mettech]

Just head out perhaps 200 km to revelstoke BC  on number one highway and there is signs saying watch for avalanches  and I have seen a few while driving on that road to Vancouver BC from Calgary AB.

For crazy one going skiing out of trails or hicking there is always warning on the signs or on the news has not doing what intended to do so the nut one gets to be on deep snow trouble.

Hopefully now surch and rescue will send the bill to these crazy nut jobs.