The small towns of Donalda and Halkirk, Alta. are in mourning this Family Day holiday after three residents lost their lives Saturday after a slide was triggered in eastern B.C., near Golden.
Four men were buried in the slide and all of them were dug out by snowmobilers in the area, but only one man survived.
Police said the incident happened around 5 p.m. on Mount Gerald, when two men were snowmobiling with their sons in the Hope River backcountry, 70 kilometres west of Golden.
Police said the avalanche appears to have been human triggered.
At the time of the avalanche, it's believed the four men were performing what's known as high-marking, when riders take their sleds as high up on the mountain as possible.
Family members have identified the victims as Norbert Mueller and Andy Gebhardt, believed to be 48 and 50, respectively. Gebhardt's son Jarret, who was in his 20s, was also killed, while Mueller's son was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A small memorial was set up Monday at the local ski club in Donalda.
"It's just a very brief recognition of what's taken place and the losses," said Donalda Mayor Bruce Gartside.
Terry Nordahl was close friends with all three victims. She says the small community is grieving along with family members.
"It's very hard for everybody, I mean three members all at once, it's tough."
The trio worked at a mine in nearby Halkirk.
The Canadian Avalanche Centre says the specific area is not known to be monitored at this time, but the centre, along with provincial and federal governments, are looking into whether it should be.
Officials with the Canadian Avalanche Centre say that conversation has been ongoing for some time about how to expand the public bulletin coverage.
Close friends say all four riders were well-prepared and knew of the risks, but did not let their fear stand in the way of something they were passionate about.
"You do what you enjoy and unfortunately, sometimes it's an unhappy ending," said Nordahl.
Rescue crews were able to remove the bodies of the three deceased men Sunday morning after determining that the terrain was stable.
With files from Bill Fortier
