Skier dies in avalanche on Cathedral Mountain near Lake Louise

A skier died in an avalanche on Cathedral Mountain just west of Lake Louise, Alta., on Friday,Avalanche Canada says.

In a reportposted to its website, the organization said the fatal incident happened when a solo skier skied off the shoulder of the mountain onto a slope known as Cathedral Glades.

In a statement sent to CBC News, Parks Canada said it received a report Monday of an "overdue" solo skier who had been skiing in the Lake Louise area since last Thursday.

The missing person's vehicle was parked at the Lake O'Hara parking lot.

"With limited information of the skier's trip plans, the search was extensive within the Lake O'Hara area," Parks Canada said.

"All ski tracksas well as high-risk areas were investigated."

Avalanche Canada said the victim was first located from the air early Monday evening because a ski was visible.

Once landed, the rescuers found the skier partially buried under the snow with a boot visible on the surface.

The agency noted a transceiver was found in the victim's backpack but it had been turned off.

Avalanche Canada said the skier had triggered a Size 2.5 avalanche.

Avalanchesare rated on a five-point scale by destructive potential,rangingfrom Size 1, which is relatively harmless, to Size 5, which could destroy a village. A Size 2 avalanche is big enough to bury, injure or kill a person.