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Photo by Ruth Hartnup
Search-and-rescue crews have recovered the body of a 78-year-old man who went missing after skiing beyond the boundary of Whistler Blackcomb.
According to a release, the Sea to Sky RCMP received a missing-person report on Feb. 28 after “an investigation involving a number of police agencies determined that Whistler was his last known location.”
Police said the man, who was not a Whistler resident, was located deceased on March 5 beyond the ski-area boundary on Whistler Mountain. The death is not considered suspicious.
In a statement, police thanked multiple agencies that assisted in the search effort, including ski patrol and several search-and-rescue groups.
Whistler Search and Rescue (SAR) said it was tasked by RCMP to begin searching for the missing man on the morning of March 4. Investigators had identified a potential clue—a ski pole discovered during an unrelated search on Feb. 20—which helped narrow the search area.
Searchers ultimately located the man at about 1,600 metres elevation on the south side of Piccolo Peak in “steep challenging to complex treeline terrain,” according to Whistler SAR.
“This was a tragic incident of someone skiing alone who we believe inadvertently went beyond the ski area boundary,” SAR’s Brad Sills told Pique.
Authorities say the incident is a reminder that hazards exist both inside and outside ski-area boundaries. Skiers and riders are urged to obey all posted signage and closures.
Search-and-rescue crews also stress the importance of basic trip planning—particularly for those recreating alone.
“If you are recreating, particularly if you are alone, it is wise to let someone know when you expect to return so that a timely search can be started if you are overdue,” Sills explained.
Police said no further details about the deceased will be released out of respect for the family.