Hampered by a severe avalanche risk, search and rescue teams struggled through most of Monday to recover the body of a backcountry skier killed in an avalanche over the weekend.
While rescue teams worked from the skies to stabilize the snow, officials urged residents in the southeast corner of the province to exercise caution while dealing with conditions so severe they were described as a "once-in-30-years event."
Mike Boissonneault, an avalanche control expert with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, said there were at least 35 avalanches in the area in recent days, some of which have cut off several roads throughout southeast B.C.
Grant Statham, an avalanche risk specialist for Parks Canada, added that temperatures in the southeast region climbed 20 degrees in about 72 hours. Steady rainfall didn't help conditions.
"That's really the perfect storm for an avalanche cycle especially when you put it on top of a weak snow pack," he said in a conference call with reporters.
The fatal avalanche occurred at Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, in an area known as Tanal Peak.
The victim was with a group of skiers when the slide occurred Sunday. Rescue teams were hampered by poor visibility but returned to the scene Monday in helicopters to recover the body.
Pilots stabilized the area and ferried down a rescue team. The body was returned to the Nelson airport, then handed over to the B.C. Coroners Service. The victim's name was not released. He was a man from Alberta, police said.
Mr. Boissonneault said crews worked throughout the region with explosives to stabilize the slopes. Canisters filled with oxygen and hydrogen were dropped from helicopters and detonated when they hit the snow.
RCMP spokesman Corporal Dan Moskaluk said the rest of the group of skiers returned to a cabin after the slide, normal safety protocol after an avalanche. The skiers remained at the cabin overnight Monday and rescue officials hoped they would be able to leave Tuesday.
Mr. Boissonneault said conditions in the southeast corridor were unusually severe.
"We are seeing conditions in the Golden-Kicking Horse area that are a one in 30-year event," he said.
While the southeast section of the province was hard hit, heavy snowfall - up to a metre in some sections -followed by rising temperatures, rain and wind caused several more slides throughout the province.
Mr. Statham said he hoped cooler temperatures later in the week would push out the moist storm and stabilize conditions.
Weather conditions forced the closing of several routes across the province. Highway 31A between New Denver and Kaslo, Highway 93 between Radium and Castle Junction and the section of the Trans-Canada between Field and Lake Louise are expected to remain closed until some point on Tuesday.
The section of the Trans-Canada through Kicking Horse Canyon east of Golden is expected to remain closed until Wednesday.