Calgary – A B.C. skier who fell into a crevasse on the Wapta Icefield near Lake Louise last week remains missing after blizzard conditions kept rescuers grounded through the weekend.
The man was one of a group of three people who were skiing in the backcountry last Tuesday night when the accident occurred. His two companions activated a search and rescue beacon when the man fell, but inclement weather and avalanche risk prevented rescuers from reaching the group until Friday. Two people, uninjured, were rescued, but their companion remains unaccounted for.
Get breaking National news
“We know he disappeared down a crevasse around 7:30 on Tuesday night. His avalanche beacon was working at that time – the party that was with him did pick up a signal. But it was a weak signal at over 35 metres,” said Brad White, visitor safety specialist with Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks. “Until we can get a rescue crew down in that hole, we can’t really speculate on his condition.”
The man has been identified as Mark Taylor, the manager of Parks and Recreation with the city of Abbotsford, B.C. The search had to be called off again on Monday afternoon, but searchers plan to go back on Tuesday morning.
The Wapta Icefield is approximately 80 square kilometres in area and straddles the interprovincial boundary of Banff and Yoho National Parks. It is a popular destination for backcountry skiers in winter, as well as glacier hikers in summer.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald with files from Global News
Comments