Two avalanches on Sunday claim four lives, send one to hospital with serious injures

A fatal avalanche on Mount Knauss in the backcountry near Terrace on Sunday, March 22nd, had claimed the lives of three heliskiers, and sent one man to hospital with serious injuries.

Exact details are light at this time, but the Terrace RCMP has confirmed the avalanche took place at a remote ski area known as Iridium Shoulder on the slopes of Mount Knauss, and that it had been reported by staff at a local heliskiing lodge.

RCMP say three men had been found dead at the avalanche site, but one man was rescued and sent to hospital with serious injuries. They have confirmed he is now in stable condition. The identities of those involved will not be released by the RCMP, and the RCMP say they do not suspect any criminality in the case.

According to Avalanche Canada, the avalanche risk in the backcountry surrounding Terrace and the North Coast is considerable today, Monday, March 23rd, and was elevated following the recent snow and warm weather from last week.

Avalanche Canada danger rating for areas near Terrace, BC, as of March 23rd, 2026 // Courtesy: Avalanche Canada

In the backcountry of Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Stewart, and the Nass valley, persistent snow slabs and new storm slabs have been reported on the Avalanche Canada website on all slopes of all directions, along with the presence of large cornices at the alpine level which have been reported on northwest, north, northeast as well as east and southeast facing slopes.

Separate fatal avalanche near BC/USA Border

A separate avalanche on Sunday, this time approximately 500 km from Atlin, BC near the BC/US Border at Pleasant Camp, had claimed another life.

Atlin RCMP say they received a Garmin SOS alert from a remote area near the Klehini River. Upon reaching the site via helicopter, had discovered a group of five had been caught in the slide.

Avalanche risk map for areas near Sunday’s fatal slide. Pleasant Camp is located near the bottom of the orange boundary on the left. // Courtesy: Avalanche Canada

One person was injured and had passed away at the avalanche site despite attempts to save them, but RCMP say the entire group was brought home, and there were no injuries among the other four.

Similar to conditions in Terrace, Avalanche Canada says the avalanche risk in the area at the time was considerable, with a complex mix of storm slabs sitting on buried weak layers from earlier in the season, and further complications from wind loading and cornices at higher elevations.