The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the snowmobile operator who died in an avalanche southeast of Sparwood on March 9, 2012.

The deceased is Steven Burke Hall, aged 33, of Birchcliff, Alberta.

Mr. Hall was one of a party of six snowmobilers riding in the South Corbin Road area on the afternoon of March 9. Three of the party had stopped for lunch. The other three, including Mr. Hall, were continuing uphill when an avalanche struck.

Investigation into the case continues.

The BC Coroners Service expresses its sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Hall, and also our appreciation to the avalanche technicians, search-and-rescue teams and volunteers who worked so diligently on the rescue and recovery efforts.

The BC Coroners Service would also like to take this opportunity to encourage all users of B.C.'s back country to heed the recent avalanche warnings issued by the Canadian Avalanche Centre. The centre states that the risk of avalanches in much of B.C. is now high.

The warning includes the mountains of the South Coast Inland, the Columbia Mountains from near Prince George in the North to the U.S. border in the south, and B.C.'s South Rockies. The centre says local knowledge and a high degree of training and experience are required to travel safely in this risky terrain.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Coleman
Regional Coroner, Interior Region
BC Coroners Service
250 861-7429