Canadian Avalanche

Canadian police say the eighth and final body from a group of snowmobilers buried by weekend avalanches has been found.

Tuesday, December 30th 2008, 5:26 pm

By: News 9

FERNIE, British Columbia (AP) -- Canadian police say the eighth and final body from a group of snowmobilers buried by weekend avalanches has been found.
   The bodies of the other seven were found yesterday near Fernie in British Columbia's Elk Valley, about 550 miles east of Vancouver.
   Eleven men, most of them in their 20s, were swept away when back-to-back avalanches hit Sunday afternoon. Three men freed themselves, digging with their bare hands, and left the area when they feared another avalanche would hit.
   It did, soon after they hurried away.
   All 11 men came from the nearby coal-mining town of Sparwood, population 4,000, and knew each other. The mayor says his town is devastated by the deaths of the men, who were all skilled outdoorsmen.