Avalanche in Canada kills skier

An avalanche near one of Canada's most popular ski resorts swept two men off a cliff, killing one and seriously injuring the other, authorities said Wednesday.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the men likely triggered the avalanche Tuesday when they entered a remote area near West Bowl, Whistler, marked "permanently closed."

The injured man, who was on a snowboard, was hospitalized in Vancouver with injuries that were not life-threatening, Staff Sgt. Steve Leclair said. The man who died was on skis. Authorities did not release their names Wednesday, although both worked in Whistler, Leclair said.

Two other men were killed after triggering an avalanche on Dec. 24 in British Columbia's interior. They had been snowmobiling at a lake when a small avalanche hit.

They were digging themselves out when a larger one hit, killing them both.