B.C. woman describes surviving an avalanche in Norway

A woman from Whistler, B.C., says she was caught in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in northern Norway in March and described the experience as being hit by a truck. Hannah Hughes was on a guided skiing trip near Trollfjorden when the snow swept 12 people down the mountain. According to the tour company’s internal review, the avalanche carried the group as far as 170 metres and moved at about 40 km/h. Hughes suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle and torn knee ligaments, and she has not yet fully recovered. The company said its guides reviewed forecasts and ground conditions before the trip and believed the risk was manageable. Hughes, however, said she had raised concerns about the weather and avalanche danger before the slide. The incident led the company to add new safety measures, including checklists, daily reports, and mandatory satellite phones.