A tragic avalanche in northwest British Columbia has left three heli-skiers dead and another seriously injured, as hazardous snowpack conditions continue to plague the province’s backcountry.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the accident occurred on Sunday, March 22, on Mount Knauss—approximately 30–35 kilometers (19 – 22 miles) north of Terrace. Authorities say four heli-skiers were caught in an avalanche on the Iridium Shoulder ski run just before 1:30 p.m. local time.
Emergency responders, including BC Emergency Health Services, were dispatched after receiving a report from lodge staff. One skier was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries and is now in stable condition, while the other three victims were found deceased at the scene.
Avalanche Canada confirmed that the group had triggered the slide, which proved fatal for three members of the party. The BC Coroners Service is now investigating the deaths.
SnowBrains also received information from an anonymous source that stated that the victims were a father and his two sons, and that the guide was the critically injured person. It also identified the heli skiing company involved, however, these details have not been independently verified. RCMP has not identified the victims or the injured survivor by name or age.
The deadly avalanche comes amid heightened avalanche danger across the province. Avalanche Canada had issued warnings of “considerable” risk in alpine terrain throughout northwest British Columbia, citing recent snowfall combined with strong southwest winds. These conditions are known to create unstable wind slabs, particularly in exposed terrain.
“Triggering newly formed storm slabs will be most likely in wind affected terrain on Sunday. Use conservative route selection. Choose simple, low angle terrain with no overhead hazard.”
– Avalanche Canada forecast for the region on Sunday
In the days leading up to the accident, an atmospheric river brought heavy precipitation and unseasonably warm temperatures to the region—factors that can rapidly destabilize the snowpack. Forecasters warned that weak layers buried beneath the surface could become increasingly reactive as additional snow and wind loading accumulated.
Sunday proved to be a particularly deadly day in British Columbia’s backcountry. Just hours after the Mount Knauss avalanche, a separate slide near the Klehini River, close to the Alaska border, claimed another life. That incident was triggered by an SOS alert from a GPS device, with rescuers later recovering one deceased individual while four others were found uninjured.
With these latest fatalities, at least nine people have died in avalanches across British Columbia since December 2025.
Avalanche experts continue to urge caution, particularly in wind-affected alpine terrain, where conditions can change rapidly and consequences can be severe.
SnowBrains will update this story as more information becomes available.
