CALGARY — A skier was flown by helicopter in life-threatening condition to Calgary after she was caught in an avalanche in Banff National Park.
STARS Air Ambulance spokesman Mark Oddan says in an email that the 32-year-old woman was in the Mount Hector area north of Lake Louise when the slide occurred Friday.
Oddan says their helicopter crew was told she was under the snow for approximately 45 minutes and that friends got her out.
He says another chopper operated by Alpine Helicopter took the woman from the scene, and the STARS helicopter then picked her up at the Banff Wardens office.
EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux says the woman was in life-threatening condition.
A Parks Canada avalanche bulletin is in effect for Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, noting that while skiing is great, the problems within the snowpack are complex and will likely persist for some time.