Czech snowboarder dies after fall into glacier crevasse in Jasper National Park

A 38-year-old man from the Czech Republic has died after falling into a crevasse on the Columbia Icefield in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, according to RCMP.

Police said officers were called to the Columbia Icefield area on May 12 after reports that a snowboarder had fallen into a glacier crevasse while travelling with two friends.

RCMP identified the victim as a Czech national who had been living in Revelstoke, B.C. Police said recovery efforts were complicated by the remote terrain and harsh environmental conditions, delaying immediate access to the body.

The Columbia Icefield is a major tourist destination along the Icefields Parkway, located about 100 kilometres southeast of Jasper. The area attracts hikers, climbers and backcountry travellers year-round, but Parks Canada and rescue officials have repeatedly warned that glacier travel carries significant risks, including hidden crevasses and rapidly changing conditions.

The investigation remains ongoing. Police have not released the victim’s name.