The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died in an avalanche near Salmo on Feb. 23, 2014.

He was Cale Jack, aged 27, from Nelson.

Mr. Jack was one of a group of four persons who went backcountry skiing in an area known as Twin Lakes near the summit of Kootenay Pass, about 37 kilometres east of Salmo. During the afternoon, an avalanche struck, burying two of them. The other members of the party were able to find and rescue the two who had been hit. Mr. Jack was unresponsive when he was found, and was not able to be resuscitated.

The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.

The family of Mr. Jack has been notified of his death.

The BC Coroners Service notes that the a Special Public Avalanche Warning from the Canadian Avalanche Centre continues in effect, warning that weather and environmental conditions are leading to a high risk of avalanche throughout most of the mountainous regions of the province and urging all backcountry users to take extreme care, including checking the Canadian Avalanche Centre webpage - http://www.avalanche.ca - for current conditions in B.C.

For further information, please contact:

Larry Marzinzik
Regional Coroner, Interior Region
BC Coroners Service
250 861-7429