A Search and Rescue Technician from Winnipeg is missing following a Thursday evening avalanche in Banff National Park.
According to Captain Bettina McCulloch-Drake of 17 Wing in Winnipeg, the unidentified airman was participating in routine exercises with his team when the avalanche occurred. The missing climber is a member of the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron based out of 17 Wing.
A helicopter search of the Polar Circus Ice Climbing route on Friday proved unfruiful.
Rescuers were initially alerted to the incident on Thursday but were unable to reach the scene due to a high risk of avalanche, poor weather, and dark conditions.
Parks Canada Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper Visitor Safety Specialists and a Parks Canada Warden Dog Handler are all involved in the operation.
Parks Canada continues to monitor conditions in the region and hope to resume their search of the area on Saturday.
Brent Peters, an alpine guide and an experience climber, scaled the Polar Circus on Wednesday. He says the region is susceptible to extreme fluctuations in conditions.
"You have to be there on the right day when the conditions are right," said Peters. "In that terrain even a small avalanche will carry you over a 60 metre cliff"
