It took a lot of teamwork and a little luck, but a B.C. snowboarder is now getting hospital treatment after surviving an avalanche.
The snowboarder and two of his friends were caught up in a slide in the Central Kootenays around 4 p.m. Friday.
One of the men was caught in a tree.
His friends called for help and a heli-skiing company managed to fly trained guides to the scene just as night was setting in.
The guides helped rescuers find the injured man, who was eventually airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital with suspected internal injuries and broken bones.
Meanwhile, avalanche forecasters have issued a warning this weekend for the South Coast, Kootenay, South Columbia and Southern Rocky Mountains.
They say conditions may look pristine, but new snow is sitting on a weak snow pack -- meaning there could be hidden danger.
"If you're going out there without any training or experience whatsoever you can definitely get yourself into trouble," says Peter Marshall of the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
"The powder snow and sunshine are very inviting but we're asking people to be conservative."
With another round of snow combined with warmer temperatures, forecasters expect next weekend to be even more treacherous.
They're asking snow-lovers to stay away from avalanche terrain and take an avalanche training course if they haven't already done so.
