An avalanche site was discovered near the Elko tunnel yesterday (Tuesday) morning, prompting a Search and Rescue team, and an RCMP police service dog handler, to search the site for possible missing people.
An experienced backcountry skier first noticed the site just after 11 a.m. Tuesday and was worried because he had noticed two sets of ski tracks nearby. The skier contacted the Elk Valley RCMP.
The RCMP immediately launched Search and Rescue to the site. A Search and Rescue team from Fernie, along with an RCMP police service dog handler, were flown to the site by a helicopter. At this point, no one has been found and the police have not received any reports of missing people on the mountain.
“There was an avalanche discovered near the Elko tunnel,” said Sgt. Dave Dubnyk from the Elk Valley RCMP on Wednesday morning.
“It is an area accessed by back country skiers. Not knowing if there was anyone involved in the avalanche we had Search and Rescue along with a number of search dogs go over the area but nothing at this point leads us to believe anyone was trapped. The avalanche is believed to be a few days old.”