Woman Dies After Fall on Mount Yamnuska

A woman has died after falling from Mount Yamnuska in Kananaskis Country, marking the fourth fatal hiking or scrambling incident reported in Banff and Kananaskis this summer.

Alberta RCMP said the woman was hiking on Mount Yamnuska on Wednesday, Aug. 19, when she was seen falling from the mountain.

Police were called shortly after 5 p.m. The woman was recovered later that day and declared deceased.

RCMP said the death is considered non-criminal and is not being treated as suspicious.

Beyond those details, however, little is known about what happened.

Police have not released the woman's age or community of residence. RCMP were also unable to confirm where on the mountain the fall occurred, including whether she was on a hiking trail, scrambling route or climbing route.

They did not provide an approximate distance of the fall, say whether the woman was travelling alone or with others, or release any information about what may have led to the fall.

Emergency Health Services Alberta said paramedics were dispatched to the Yamnuska area at the request of Kananaskis Emergency Services at approximately 6 p.m., but were stood down before having contact with a patient.

"This scene was left with Kananaskis Emergency Services and RCMP," said Stuart Brideaux, public education officer with Emergency Health Services Alberta.

Bow Valley Insider also contacted Kananaskis Emergency Services seeking additional information about the response and recovery. The agency declined to answer questions and referred inquiries to the press secretary for Alberta Forestry and Parks, who was unavailable to respond before publication.

A Mountain With Very Different Types of Terrain

The lack of information about where the woman fell is significant on Yamnuska because the mountain accommodates everything from established hiking trails to exposed scrambling terrain and technical rock climbing.

Alberta Parks directs visitors from the main trailhead toward the East Ridge or West Col trails.

The East Ridge trail leads to Raven's End, where hikers encounter a decision point before continuing onto the considerably more serious scrambling route. Parks specifically warns visitors that people have become lost and fatalities have occurred beyond that point.

The West Col Trail, built in 2021 to replace the mountain's former scree descent, provides another way onto the mountain and is described by Alberta Parks as a more straightforward and less exposed option for experienced hikers looking to approach the summit from the west.

Beyond the hiking trails, Yamnuska's imposing limestone face is also one of the region's best-known rock climbing areas, with more than 150 climbing routes.

The medical examiner is responsible for determining the cause of death. RCMP said a criminal investigation would continue only if the medical examiner found evidence indicating the death was criminal.

For now, RCMP said no further information about the incident would be released.

Fourth Fatal Hiking or Scrambling Incident This Summer

The Yamnuska death is the fourth fatal hiking or scrambling incident reported across Banff and Kananaskis this summer.

In June, 47-year-old Airdrie resident Katie Heaven died after falling on Mount Bryant. On July 25, a 65-year-old Calgary man died after falling while scrambling Mount Temple. Three days later, a 25-year-old British woman living and working in Banff died after falling several hundred metres on Marvel Peak.