Another killer slide as WHL honours former Calgary linesman
Posted Mar 22, 2010 8:01 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There has been yet another deadly avalanche in B.C.
It’s the third one in the province in eight days.
The latest slide, near Kamloops, has killed two French heli-skiers.
Valemount RCMP say the avalanche in the Wells Gray Provincial Park buried three skiers, but the third man was quickly rescued and escaped without any injuries.
The men who died were 65 and 19-years-old. Their families have requested their names not be released.
Police say the avalanche happened when a licensed heli-ski operator had a group of ten skiers and two guides descending a run in the park’s Cariboo Mountain Range.
Marty von Neudegg with Canadian Mountain Holidays says there were two guides on that trip who have decades of experience.
“We felt that it was a safe run to ski on on that day. In the 22 years one of our guides has gone down that run, he’s never seen anything like this,” von Neudegg tells CTV.
These latest deaths come as the Western Hockey League plans to pay tribute to the former linesman from Calgary that was killed in another slide on Friday.
Game officials will pay tribute to Kelly Reitenbach by wearing a patch on their uniforms or decals on their helmets, according to the sun.
The 31-year-old was snowmobiling near Revelstoke when he triggered the avalanche that took his life.
Justin Slimm worked with Reitenbach on a referee committee.
“He was just a hard working guy who was always there to help out the younger officials. He was just a great guy all-around and it’s really upsetting to see him go,” Slimm tells 660News.
The tribute could come as early as tonight when the Calgary Hitmen play the Moose Jaw Warriors.
