Three snowmobilers have been killed in an avalanche northeast of Golden, B.C., on Mount Gerald, according to the RCMP.

Eight people were in the group when the slide came down around 5 p.m. Saturday.

"There was two groups of four. The avalanche occurred with only one group of four being involved in it," said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk

"The second group of four initiated rescue. They unburied all four."

The fourth person suffered only minor injuries, said Moskaluk.

Crews are to return to the scene to recover the three bodies this morning.

"Recovery will continue (today) at daylight," Moskaluk said.

Golden is located near the provincial border with Alberta and is approximately 140 kilometres from Banff National Park.

At press time, Moskaluk said he did not know where the snowmobilers were from or how old they are.

The avalanche happened shortly after emergency crews responded to another unrelated avalanche at 3: 30 p.m. at Repeater Peak area, north of Golden.

No one was injured in that slide.