Author Talk: Ken Wylie, Avalanche Survivor

Ken Wylie, a Canadian mountain guide and author who survived a 2003 British Columbia avalanche that left seven dead, is coming to Orca Books at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, to share his book “Buried,” the story of the avalanche, events leading up to and following it, and lessons gained regarding social courage, speaking up, and heeding intuition.

Wylie was an assistant guide in one of two guided backcountry skiing groups in the Selkirk Mountains Jan. 20, 2003, when an avalanche buried 13 people, including Wylie. After an hour of frantic digging by those still standing, seven had died. Wylie reflects on the human factors that played into putting people in harm’s way, accountability, and personal growth that results from looking back.