78-Year-Old Skier Found Dead Beyond Whistler Blackcomb, BC, Boundary After Going Missing February 28

Search-and-rescue crews recovered the body of a 78-year-old Vancouver man on March 5 after he was reported missing at Whistler Blackcomb, in British Columbia, on February 28, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

The man was found on the south side of Piccolo Peak at roughly 5,250 feet (1,600 metres) elevation in what Whistler Search and Rescue president Brad Sills described as “steep, challenging terrain beyond the ski area boundary”. His death is not considered suspicious.

Sea to Sky RCMP Cpl. Katrina Boehmer said a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving several police agencies, including the Vancouver Police Department, identified Whistler as the man’s last known location, triggering the formal search. Whistler SAR was tasked by the RCMP to begin searching on the morning of March 4. The man was found the following day.

Authorities believe he inadvertently skied past the marked ski area boundary, likely due to poor visibility. He was not carrying backcountry equipment. A ski pole discovered during an unrelated search on February 20 proved instrumental in narrowing the search area.

The recovery involved Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol and search-and-rescue teams from Whistler, Squamish, and the North Shore, as well as specially trained dogs.

RCMP said no further details about the deceased will be released out of respect for the family.