Snowboarder dies at Mount Washington ski resort

Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 4:16 PM - A male snowboarder in his twenties was found unresponsive within the boundaries of the resort Monday, the B.C. Coroner's Office has confirmed.

Resort general manager Peter Gibson said Monday's events were a "tragedy."

"Everyone here at the resort sends our sincerest condolences to the family and friends."

While the man was inside the boundaries, marketing manager Sheila Rivers said he was in a treed area that isn't actively groomed. The Coroners' office is investigating and has not released a cause of death.

Metre of snow in 24 hours

The death came a day after Mount Washington was closed after more than a metre of snow fell in a 24 hour period, raising the avalanche danger rating to high.

As a result of the massive amount of fresh powder, Mount Washington Road was closed from the resort to the junction of Highway 19, according to Drive B.C.

On Sunday, Meaghan Barker of Victoria, one of many people who stuck in the area, told The Weather Network she'd never seen so much snow.

"On Friday morning when we were snowboarding it was great. The snow was really coming down. On Saturday, my husband went out again and we went tobogganing with the kids and then Saturday night the heavens unleashed."

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"We dug out the car six times only to be buried, like invisible over and over, and over."

Video below was taken by Barker around 5 a.m. local time Sunday. The local streets were plowed Saturday evening, but overnight she estimates another 100+ cm fell.

"It was madness. I couldn't believe how high it was," she said. "The neighbours all started digging the streets to at least try to get to each other."

Plows were unable to reach the family's cabin while several vehicles were stuck Henry Road, which intersects with Fosters Place, according to Barker. 

"As far as where we are, we're sort of hooped until they get those cars cleared," she said. "Cars were waiting from what I heard from friends leaving the mountain yesterday, for like five hours trying to get down the mountain."

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