A 29-year-old Czech man has been killed by an avalanche while skiing in the backcountry at Kluane National Park in the Yukon, according to RCMP.
Haines Junction RCMP and Parks Canada officials are still trying to recover the man's body from an area near Observation Mountain in the national park, police stated in a release Tuesday.
The man, who police said was a Czech citizen but living in Whitehorse at the time, was on a three-day backcountry skiing trip with three friends when on Sunday, an avalanche was triggered as they were crossing a slope.
Police said the victim was the second man in a staggered skiing formation and was swept away, along with the third man in line, by the avalanche. The other two skiers located both men, but were not able to revive the victim.
While the avalanche took place on Sunday, the remaining three men were not able to report it until they returned to Haines Junction on Monday night.
RCMP have not released the deceased man's name, as the Czech Republic Embassy in Canada is being notified. Police said the man's family members have been informed of the death.
Police said all four men were experienced skiers and had proper emergency equipment with them, including avalanche beacons and probes.
