Skier dies in 2nd fatal Whistler accident this week
Last Updated: Thursday, December 25, 2008 | 7:28 PM PT
CBC News
A B.C. man killed in a skiing accident Wednesday on Whistler Mountain is the second person to die on the hill this week.
The 47-year-old man from Whistler was skiing on the upper Dave Murray Downhill run, an area that is open to the public, at about 2 p.m. when he left the marked piste, hit some large rocks and was severely injured, according to the RCMP.
The ski patrol and two mountain doctors went to the man's aid and attempted to resuscitate him, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The area had been posted with signs warning of unmarked rocks and obstacles due to early- season conditions, the RCMP said.
The Mounties are continuing their investigation and are interviewing witnesses. The man's family has been notified and his name is not being released for now, police said.
On Monday afternoon, a 17-year-old snowboarder from Burnaby, B.C., died on Whistler Mountain after hitting a boulder.
The teen was boarding inside the resort boundaries but in an area closed to the public because of snow conditions, Whistler RCMP said at the time.
RCMP are advising skiers and snowboarders to stay on marked runs, since the snowpack remains shallow.
Despite the recent storms that have walloped the south coast of B.C. with up to 70 centimetres of snow, the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort only had a snow base of 76 centimetres earlier this week, while just half of the lifts have been opened so far this season.
A gondola tower also collapsed last week, but nobody was seriously injured in the incident
An avalanche warning has been issued for this weekend for areas including Vancouver-area mountains as warming temperatures make for an unstable snow pack.
With files from the Canadian Press
