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Parks Canada has shared more details with CBC News about a man’s fatal fall in Jasper National Park earlier this month.
On May 12, two backcountry snowboarders and one skier were on the Athabasca Glacier when the skier fell 25 metres into an ice crevasse.
Karly Savoy, a public relations and communications officer with Parks Canada, said in an email that the group was descending the Athabasca Glacier from the south ridge of Mount Andromeda. They were approaching the top of the highest icefall when the accident happened.
An icefall is a steep section of a glacier with moving fractured ice that resembles a waterfall.
“The group was equipped for crevasse rescue and attempted to assist, but they could not safely access the individual due to multiple surrounding crevasses,” Savoy said.
At around 5:15 p.m. that day, the group called Parks Canada dispatch. Visitor safety specialists from Jasper National Park and Banff National Park arrived at the scene, along with emergency responders, including RCMP officers.
Almost two and a half hours later, visitor safety specialists descended into the crevasse and confirmed that a 38-year-old man had died from injuries sustained in the fall.
Due to weather conditions and the remote location of the man who died, the RCMP said recovery of the body was not immediately possible.
Savoy said two days later, on May 14, the man’s body was recovered by Parks Canada’s visitor safety specialists.
Mathew Howell, a public information officer for the RCMP, said the skier who died was a citizen of the Czech Republic and was living in Revelstoke, B.C., at the time of the incident. The victim’s two friends were also living in Revelstoke.
The incident is being treated as a sudden death, with no foul play expected, Howell said.
Parks Canada is leading the primary investigation into the incident, with Jasper RCMP providing assistance.
“Parks Canada extends sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those affected by this loss,” Savoy said.
“We also acknowledge the efforts of first responders and Parks Canada staff who assisted during the incident.”
The Columbia Icefield is a popular but highly hazardous landscape, and Savoy warned that accidents can occur even when visitors have experience and training.
Savoy said people exploring the backcountry should be “properly equipped and familiar with safe glacier travel, navigation and rescue techniques.”
She added that people should check Avalanche Canada forecasts and reports and leave trip details with an emergency contact before visiting.