Canadian Army Investigating After Three Soldiers Fall Into Crevasse During Glacier Training in Jasper

The Canadian Army is investigating a training accident that sent three soldiers approximately 20 metres into a crevasse on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park during a specialized mountain warfare course.

The incident happened July 17 while members of the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre were conducting scheduled crevasse rescue training as part of the Complex Terrain Leader Course on the Athabasca Glacier, according to the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre.

The three soldiers were travelling as a rope team when they fell into the crevasse.

All three members suffered injuries but were described as stable and responsive at the scene before being airlifted to hospital in Jasper for treatment.

The Canadian Army has not released any additional information about their conditions, citing privacy concerns.

"This built-in safety protocol allowed for the rapid recovery and medical care of the affected members," said Major Bradley Roy, senior public affairs officer with the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, in a statement provided to Bow Valley Insider.

The Army said the exercise was intentionally designed to simulate one of the most dangerous situations mountaineers can encounter.

"Crevasse rescue training of this nature is inherently high-risk, which is why it is always conducted with experienced, qualified rescue personnel embedded specifically to respond in the event of a fall," Roy said.

That preparation proved critical when the accident occurred.

Rather than being an unexpected backcountry emergency, the scenario was one in which rescue specialists were already on site, allowing the injured soldiers to be recovered quickly before being transported by helicopter for medical care.

The incident occurred on the Athabasca Glacier, one of Canada's best-known glaciers and one of the most accessible in North America. The glacier, which flows from the Columbia Icefield along the Icefields Parkway, is crossed by deep crevasses that are often hidden beneath snow bridges, making specialized training and rope travel essential for anyone operating on its surface.

The Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre regularly conducts mountain operations training in the Rockies, where soldiers learn skills needed to operate safely in alpine and glaciated terrain. The glacier exercise formed part of the Complex Terrain Leader Course, which prepares personnel to lead operations in challenging mountain environments where conventional movement techniques are not sufficient.

The Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, headquartered in Kingston, Ont., oversees much of the Army's doctrine development and specialized training across Canada, including advanced military instruction delivered through organizations such as the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre.

While military training is designed to expose soldiers to realistic conditions, the Army acknowledged that glacier travel carries unavoidable hazards.

"The Canadian Army takes injuries during training seriously and we are investigating how this incident occurred to ensure training procedures are safe and observed," Roy said.

The Army did not say what may have caused the fall or whether any training procedures were not followed. It also did not indicate when the investigation is expected to conclude.

Roy thanked Parks Canada and hospital staff for assisting with the response, but declined to provide further details about the injured members.