Photo: Stellar Heli-Skiing / Facebook

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.

The three men who died in an avalanche Monday in the mountains east of Kootenay Lake were skiing with Stellar Heli-Skiing.

In a brief statement, the Kaslo-based business said it extends its “deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy.”

“Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time.”

In line with information already released by RCMP and Kaslo Search and Rescue, Stellar's statement says the avalanche occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on March 24 in the Clute Creek watershed.

“Kaslo Search and Rescue was dispatched shortly after the incident was reported and responded with a team of four specialized winter response technicians,” the company said.

“One skier was rescued, and airlifted to advanced medical treatment. Tragically, three skiers did not survive, their bodies have since been recovered from the scene.”

The RCMP are investigating the incident and the company is deferring all questions to the police.

UPDATE 11:10 a.m.

Kaslo Search and Rescue says in a statement that its crews responded to what they were told was a "serious avalanche" on Monday in the Purcell Mountain range.

The statement said the four men who were caught up were part of an organized operation that had experience with avalanches, and by the time their team arrived by helicopter the men had been found and pulled from the snow.

The rescue team was able to help try to revive the men and supported an evacuation of others from the mountain, it said.

"Unfortunately three of the skiers could not be revived and succumbed to injuries they sustained in the avalanche," the Kaslo Search and Rescue statement said.

Avalanche Canada has rated the danger in the area around Kootenay Lake as high, from the alpine to below the treeline.

“Rising temperatures are creating very dangerous avalanche conditions and terrible riding quality. (There's) no reason to go near avalanche terrain,” the forecaster says on it’s update from Monday.

The Canadian Press

ORIGINAL 9:55 a.m.

Three men are dead after an avalanche in the mountains east of Kootenay Lake.

RCMP say the slide hit a group of heli-skiers just before 1 p.m. on Monday.

Two groups of skiers had just finished skiing an alpine bowl and were waiting in a staging area below the tree line of the Clute Creek watershed.

“A transport helicopter was nearing the group when the pilot observed an avalanche and sounded the siren,” said the RCMP statement.

While one group of skiers was able to run out of harms way, the other group of four was swept away into the tree line.

Rescue efforts managed get to a 40-year-old Nelson man, who was critically injured. Three others were located deceased; a 44-year-old man from Whistler B.C., a 45-year-old man from Idaho, U.S. and the 53-year-old guide from Kaslo B.C.

“Kaslo RCMP will continue to assist the BC Coroners Service in the investigation,” police said.

No additional information was release by police.