1 man dead after avalanche in backcountry near Merritt

One man has died following anavalanche near Merritt, B.C., police say

Just before 1 p.m. on Saturday,RCMP in Merritt received a report of an avalanche near Cabin Lake and Prospect Creek. The area is about 56 kilometres southwest of Merritt.

According to police, one person was attempting to find another manwho was trapped by the slide. In a statement, RCMP say both men were snowmobiling in the backcountry when the avalanche occurred.

RCMP say search and rescue personnel reached the avalanche sitenear Cabin Lake and Prospect Creek by air Saturday afternoon. Hope Volunteer Search and Rescue said on its Facebook page that itassisted in the search.

Despite rescue efforts, police say that the man caught in the slide died.

"The victim was located by searchers, but sadly he did not survive," said B.C. RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey in a statement.

O'Donaghey saidthe BC Coroners Service has been notified and isinvestigating the man'sdeath.His identity will not be released.

Caution urged in backcountry

The RCMP says it encourages people to monitorAvalanche Canada for conditions and use extra caution travelling inthe backcountry.

Avalanche Canada, a not-for-profit organization that issues dailyavalanche forecasts in the winter, maintained high danger ratingsfor several areas in the province at alpine and treeline elevations.

A high danger rating indicates very dangerous avalancheconditions and travel in the terrain is not recommended, accordingto the not-for-profit organization's website. Natural avalanches arelikely and human-triggered ones are very likely.

Cabin Lake is located in the South Coast Inland area whereAvalanche Canada forecast a high danger rating for alpine, treelineand below treeline elevations.