Golden - Skiers lost for 9 days - Sad ending
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skidoo_guy
Well-known member
"Investigators are trying to figure out why a couple from LaSalle who spent nine days stranded in the snowy mountains of eastern British Columbia weren't rescued sooner, despite the fact that two different helicopter pilots spotted a large SOS carved in the snow.
By the time searchers rescued Gilles Blackburn, 51, Tuesday morning near the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C., his 44-year-old wife, Marie Jose Fortin, had already died - and he had spent nine days in the cold. (. . .)
Investigators are trying to figure out why a couple from LaSalle who spent nine days stranded in the snowy mountains of eastern British Columbia weren’t rescued sooner, despite the fact that two different helicopter pilots spotted a large SOS carved in the snow.
By the time searchers rescued Gilles Blackburn, 51, Tuesday morning near the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C., his 44-year-old wife, Marie Jose Fortin, had already died — and he had spent nine days in the cold.
Police said it appears the woman died of exposure. (. . .)
Two days after the couple became lost, local search-and-rescue crews were notified when a heli-skiing pilot saw a large SOS carved into the snow.
When officials contacted the ski resort, they told that there were no outstanding ski rentals, missing person reports or cars unaccounted for in the parking lot. For that reason, a ground search wasn’t started for the missing couple, the RCMP said yesterday."
I guess their mistake was not driving a snowmobile. That would have gotten them massive suport. Damn Eastern hippies...
By the time searchers rescued Gilles Blackburn, 51, Tuesday morning near the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C., his 44-year-old wife, Marie Jose Fortin, had already died - and he had spent nine days in the cold. (. . .)
Investigators are trying to figure out why a couple from LaSalle who spent nine days stranded in the snowy mountains of eastern British Columbia weren’t rescued sooner, despite the fact that two different helicopter pilots spotted a large SOS carved in the snow.
By the time searchers rescued Gilles Blackburn, 51, Tuesday morning near the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C., his 44-year-old wife, Marie Jose Fortin, had already died — and he had spent nine days in the cold.
Police said it appears the woman died of exposure. (. . .)
Two days after the couple became lost, local search-and-rescue crews were notified when a heli-skiing pilot saw a large SOS carved into the snow.
When officials contacted the ski resort, they told that there were no outstanding ski rentals, missing person reports or cars unaccounted for in the parking lot. For that reason, a ground search wasn’t started for the missing couple, the RCMP said yesterday."
I guess their mistake was not driving a snowmobile. That would have gotten them massive suport. Damn Eastern hippies...
X
x-guy
ACCOUNT CLOSED
very sad story, there were alot of mistakes made from alot of different sides, but I think the bottom line in my opinion is this highlights why someone at home should always know where your going when venturing into the backcountry, whether snowmobiling, hiking, skiing, whatever.
Very true x-guy, unfortunately for them home was in Quebec, and their family had no reason to believe they were doing anything but enjoying their ski trip...... sad story for sure. Why a more detailed search was not done near the sos sighting is beyond me, I heard talk in town yesterday that a local search and rescue authority brushed it off as a prank. Really sad story, and definitely mistakes made - crappy side of it I see is when accidents like this happen it inspires politicians and other desk sitters to implement restrictions to accessing the back country. Eventually canadian ski resorts will be like some in the states, where if you leave the area boundry you are fined or depending on the outcome even put in jail.
nate
nate
I cant believe this whole ordeal....SOS in the snow and they brush it off?? WTF? They should have had a closer look for sure.....doesnt make sense. Then more SOS's and still blown off....makes me sick.
Yea, but when I go traveling I check in with my family back home at least once a day to let them know I'm ok. One would suppose the resort had telephones so that was for sure something they could have been doing. If my wife doesn't hear from me for 2 days in a row when I'm traveling she calls the hotel I'm staying at to have them check on me. I do that whether traveling for business or recreation.
sled_guy
He was with his wife. When my parents go away on holidays to mexico or vegas or wherever I don't expect them to check in with me even once, do you? I'm also sure my dad doesn't call his dad to let him know he's ok.
I understand they checked out of their hotel that morning before going skiing and getting lost. No reason for anyone to be unaccounted for so the search was not sent out. Ignoring the sos just bottom line should not have happened in my opinion.
nate
M
mod03rmk800
Well-known member
SOS for Christ sakes!! How often IS this pranked?
I just bought the SPOT and am going to try it out this weekend. Seems to be a real good tool. Not real expensive either.
I just bought the SPOT and am going to try it out this weekend. Seems to be a real good tool. Not real expensive either.
sad story
I saw this on the news on the Canadian channel out of Alberta I get on cable. They said the husband said they had no survival gear and only a couple of granola bars to eat. And for whatever reason they were 17 kilometers (approx. 10 1/2 miles) outside the ski area boundry. Definately in over their head, but somebody is sure gonna get their a$$ in a crack over not responding to the SOS the first time.
I saw this on the news on the Canadian channel out of Alberta I get on cable. They said the husband said they had no survival gear and only a couple of granola bars to eat. And for whatever reason they were 17 kilometers (approx. 10 1/2 miles) outside the ski area boundry. Definately in over their head, but somebody is sure gonna get their a$$ in a crack over not responding to the SOS the first time.
Its too bad that some people have no compassion for this couple who had a total run of bad luck. They did make several SOS's in the snow and had some backcountry knowledge but this is a just an unfortunate accident.
An unsolicited response such as that drives a wedge farther into the divide between all backcountry users who have access to this area and is frankly just plain ignorant and dis-respectful.
I realize there are many factors involved and that we are not all 100% sure on what exactly happened, all I know is that it would have been a cold long week and watching a loved one die would have been terribly hard.
NSC
Edit - Sorry Skidoo_guy! I didn't realize that this was a direct quote from that other site. My apologies!! and that other ****er should be ***** slapped!
Thanks Zachcreek for the follow up and the correction, good to know that SW's are not that arrogant!
An unsolicited response such as that drives a wedge farther into the divide between all backcountry users who have access to this area and is frankly just plain ignorant and dis-respectful.
I realize there are many factors involved and that we are not all 100% sure on what exactly happened, all I know is that it would have been a cold long week and watching a loved one die would have been terribly hard.
NSC
Edit - Sorry Skidoo_guy! I didn't realize that this was a direct quote from that other site. My apologies!! and that other ****er should be ***** slapped!
Thanks Zachcreek for the follow up and the correction, good to know that SW's are not that arrogant!
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Everybody should read the latest updates on this, the Calgary Herald has a good story today with good factual information. They went O/B without the proper equipment or knowledge of the area, the first three SOS's spotted were buy a touring guide and not visible from the air. The RCMP probably should have instigated a search earlier but hindsight is 20/20. You dont risk volunteer S&R members on iffy info.
It seems a little fishy that he could not find his way out in 10 days, I think there is more to this, obviousley this area sees a fair amount of traffic as 4 different SOS's were spotted.
Bottom line is PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THEIR ACTIONS
it is the BLAME GAME and unprepared travellars that are going to ruin it for all of us.
Excuse my spelling it has been a long day.
Z
Zachcreek
Well-known member
SKI_DOO Guy actually cut and pasted the article link that was posted by AdrenalineAddiction.
Colorado, at some areas used to have backcountry access gates. Not sure about up there. But the fact is, if you go into the backcountry, tell someone. If you cut the ropes, you are asking for it.
SOS in the snow. Ignored by the pilots without investigating. Just passed information on. Irresponsible and just plain stupid. The pilots that I know would have investigated with or without clients on board. Sad ending that may have been avoided.
Heli 1 to base, someone is playing that old SOS game in the snow again.
Idiots.
The only SOS spotted from the sky was the last one and the guy was standing there waving
I don't know about most of you, but I would have had half the forest burnt down in 9 days. I feal really bad for these people and their families. It is pretty obvious to me they didn't have any buisness being where they were. As every one of us on here know being prepared is not an option it is a must !
My take as well PC. Good post.
B
barefooter
Well-known member
I am with PC. I'd be checking whether the wife had a big insurance policy. Something sounds real fishy to me on this.
10 days going out of bounds at Kicking Horse. You could walk down that mountain to the river from anywhere in 5 hours max - that is if they were on the north side. If they were on the south side - WTF. No idiot should be back there from the .
And then - the story this morning was that the husband is beating off wolves with his skis??????????
This is just too stupid to be believable. My money is that he offed her - and this is how he is trying to cover it up. She is going in for an autopsy - so we will see.
If I am wrong - i will gladly eat my shirt on this one.......... Just call me a cynical lawyer
10 days going out of bounds at Kicking Horse. You could walk down that mountain to the river from anywhere in 5 hours max - that is if they were on the north side. If they were on the south side - WTF. No idiot should be back there from the .
And then - the story this morning was that the husband is beating off wolves with his skis??????????
This is just too stupid to be believable. My money is that he offed her - and this is how he is trying to cover it up. She is going in for an autopsy - so we will see.
If I am wrong - i will gladly eat my shirt on this one.......... Just call me a cynical lawyer
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the reason none of the SOS requests were not responded to was because the RCMP were all at the inquest trying to convince the public 4 of them couldn;t handle one poor Polish tourist without killing him...so i figure they were just to darn busy to take a venture out to save a life...l don't care what mistakes this guy and his wife made...the pleas for help were there...they were noticed .. and they were ignored...!!!!
Z
Zachcreek
Well-known member
Hypothermia will take your senses away in a hurry. If you are lost and in a situation in the backcountry, follow a creek and it will lead you to a road eventually. If on skis or snowshoes you can travel a number of miles in a day.
I know that BC is wide open country, but this logic always works. Creeks go to rivers, roads follow rivers. But, again, hypothemia and panic makes you stay where you are at with the hope of resuce.
You have to take care of yourself in these situations. Does not sound like they had the sense for survival skills. Snow caves, pine bows and deadfall will keep you alive. Sad
I know that BC is wide open country, but this logic always works. Creeks go to rivers, roads follow rivers. But, again, hypothemia and panic makes you stay where you are at with the hope of resuce.
You have to take care of yourself in these situations. Does not sound like they had the sense for survival skills. Snow caves, pine bows and deadfall will keep you alive. Sad
apparantly according to his brother in a news paper article he did build a cave
first night and cut branches etc...eat leaves etc..he had to keep wolves at a distance waving his ski..s...???..
Lost skiers fought off wolves to stay alive: brother
RCMP admit failure to search for missing skiers was mistake
Last Updated: Thursday, February 26, 2009 | 12:37 PM PT Comments495Recommend283CBC News
Marie-Josée Fortin, left, and Gilles Blackburn, right, are shown in this family photo with their son William Blackburn, middle, and their daughter, Laurence Blackburn, second right, and their son's girlfriend, Amélie Jeanneau, second left. A Montreal couple lost in the B.C. backcountry had to fight off wolves, eat leaves, and build shelters to stay alive as they waited nearly 10 days to be rescued, the brother of the man who survived told CBC News.
Marie-Josée Fortin, 44, died before help arrived on Feb. 24. Her husband, Gilles Blackburn, 51, was treated for frostbite and exposure and released from hospital Wednesday, just 24 hours after flagging down the helicopter that rescued him.
The couple got lost while skiing out of bounds at the Kicking Horse Resort near Golden on Feb. 15.
Yvon Blackburn told CBC News his brother had gone to B.C. with his wife for a romantic Valentine's getaway and ended up lost in the snowy mountains with no food or shelter. He said at one point his brother had to fight off wolves with his skis in order to survive.
He described the couple as experienced skiers who loved going off trail into the backcountry.
"We are all skiers," he said, noting that some members of his family have been on Canada's national ski team.
Couple entered survival mode: brother
Blackburn said his brother told him some details of what happened before he was finally rescued.
A Montreal couple was lost in the backcountry near the Kicking Horse Resort for 10 days, according to RCMP. (CBC)
When he and his wife got lost, they followed the tracks of another skier. With no sign of civilization in sight, Gilles, an avid hunter, went into survival mode.
"They thought they'd wait it out for the night and make it back the next day. They didn't realize it would last that long," said Blackburn.
"He knew how to sleep under the snow, cut wood, said he'd cut branches. The cold never got to them."
Blackburn said the couple ate leaves and snow to survive, and said his brother was more afraid of wolves than the temperature.
"The wolves were the most dangerous at night. They were very close."
Blackburn said his brother and sister-in-law eventually decided to stop trying to make their way to safety.
"His wife couldn't go any further, so he stayed with her and said, 'Well, now they have to find us.'"
RCMP have said they will not release the cause of Fortin's death until an autopsy is performed on Friday, but in an earlier statement police said she probably died from exposure.
RCMP admit mistake over lack of search
Meanwhile, the RCMP said Thursday that failing to start a search for the pair was a mistake.
"There was an error on behalf of the RCMP in not initiating a call-out on Feb. 21," Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said on Thursday morning in Golden, B.C.
Even though the couple got lost on Sunday, Feb. 15, a search for them didn't begin until nine days after they disappeared, despite sightings of SOS signs scratched into the snow. SOS signs were noticed on Feb. 17, and again on Feb. 21, which is when the RCMP were first informed.
The RCMP said an internal investigation would be conducted into why a search was not initiated.
"In similar instances we do call out a search. In this instance we did not," said Moskaluk, who said normal procedure would have been to schedule a flyover of the area or a ground search.
Police track couple's whereabouts
Police said their preliminary investigation suggests the couple rented a vehicle in Calgary and were planning to travel to Banff, then on to B.C. to visit Golden and Revelstoke on a skiing holiday.
The first night they stayed in Lake Louise. They then drove to the Mountaineer Lodge near Golden at the Kicking Horse Resort, where they spent the night of Feb. 14, police said in statement issued Wednesday afternoon.
The couple checked out of the Mountaineer Lodge on Feb. 15 and went skiing at the resort. Sometime that day they went out of bounds and got lost, police said.
They had left their belongings in the rented vehicle, which was parked in an underground parkade at the Mountaineer Lodge.
Decision not to search disputed
The RCMP released a statement on Wednesday afternoon with details about why there had been no search.
On Feb. 17, a local heli-skiing company received a call from an off-duty ski guide touring the area saying he had spotted an SOS sign and strange tracks west of the Kicking Horse Resort, the statement said.
The Kicking Horse Resort was contacted to check if they had any reports of missing skiers. It appears at this time that the Provincial Emergency Preparedness and the local RCMP detachment were not contacted, said police.
On Feb. 21, a group returning from a ski trip saw two more SOS signs and notified officials at the heli-skiing company who in turn reported it to Golden RCMP, said police.
Staff at the Kicking Horse Resort were contacted and advised that they had previously investigated this incident with no result, said police.
Police have said previously that the Golden and District Search and Rescue Association of British Columbia then decided not to conduct a ground search of the area. But the search and rescue team has disputed that, saying only the RCMP can authorize a search for a missing person.
Family was active, say Montreal neighbours
Meanwhile in Montreal, the couple's 19-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter remain secluded with their grandmother at the family home on a quiet street in LaSalle.
On Wednesday, the curtains were drawn on the home and Gilles Blackburn's work truck, used for his contracting business, sat outside the family duplex.
The children talked to their father after he was rescued, police said.
Neighbours described the family as sporty, always heading off somewhere with their skis or mountain bikes.
Neighbour Louise Cedilot said the daughter came over to borrow something a few days ago and mentioned her parents were on vacation and that she and her brother thought it was strange they hadn't heard from them.
Montreal police said the children reported the couple missing when the two failed to return from their ski trip on Feb. 23.
Cedilot said Fortin, a former nurse, used to come over to help her with cancer injections. Now she can hardly believe what's befallen the couple.
"It's unreal," said Cedilot. "She was so young. She was beautiful."
Cedilot's husband Michel said: "It's terrible. They're the best neighbours you could have
RCMP admit failure to search for missing skiers was mistake
Last Updated: Thursday, February 26, 2009 | 12:37 PM PT Comments495Recommend283CBC News
Marie-Josée Fortin, left, and Gilles Blackburn, right, are shown in this family photo with their son William Blackburn, middle, and their daughter, Laurence Blackburn, second right, and their son's girlfriend, Amélie Jeanneau, second left. A Montreal couple lost in the B.C. backcountry had to fight off wolves, eat leaves, and build shelters to stay alive as they waited nearly 10 days to be rescued, the brother of the man who survived told CBC News.
Marie-Josée Fortin, 44, died before help arrived on Feb. 24. Her husband, Gilles Blackburn, 51, was treated for frostbite and exposure and released from hospital Wednesday, just 24 hours after flagging down the helicopter that rescued him.
The couple got lost while skiing out of bounds at the Kicking Horse Resort near Golden on Feb. 15.
Yvon Blackburn told CBC News his brother had gone to B.C. with his wife for a romantic Valentine's getaway and ended up lost in the snowy mountains with no food or shelter. He said at one point his brother had to fight off wolves with his skis in order to survive.
He described the couple as experienced skiers who loved going off trail into the backcountry.
"We are all skiers," he said, noting that some members of his family have been on Canada's national ski team.
Couple entered survival mode: brother
Blackburn said his brother told him some details of what happened before he was finally rescued.
A Montreal couple was lost in the backcountry near the Kicking Horse Resort for 10 days, according to RCMP. (CBC)
When he and his wife got lost, they followed the tracks of another skier. With no sign of civilization in sight, Gilles, an avid hunter, went into survival mode.
"They thought they'd wait it out for the night and make it back the next day. They didn't realize it would last that long," said Blackburn.
"He knew how to sleep under the snow, cut wood, said he'd cut branches. The cold never got to them."
Blackburn said the couple ate leaves and snow to survive, and said his brother was more afraid of wolves than the temperature.
"The wolves were the most dangerous at night. They were very close."
Blackburn said his brother and sister-in-law eventually decided to stop trying to make their way to safety.
"His wife couldn't go any further, so he stayed with her and said, 'Well, now they have to find us.'"
RCMP have said they will not release the cause of Fortin's death until an autopsy is performed on Friday, but in an earlier statement police said she probably died from exposure.
RCMP admit mistake over lack of search
Meanwhile, the RCMP said Thursday that failing to start a search for the pair was a mistake.
"There was an error on behalf of the RCMP in not initiating a call-out on Feb. 21," Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said on Thursday morning in Golden, B.C.
Even though the couple got lost on Sunday, Feb. 15, a search for them didn't begin until nine days after they disappeared, despite sightings of SOS signs scratched into the snow. SOS signs were noticed on Feb. 17, and again on Feb. 21, which is when the RCMP were first informed.
The RCMP said an internal investigation would be conducted into why a search was not initiated.
"In similar instances we do call out a search. In this instance we did not," said Moskaluk, who said normal procedure would have been to schedule a flyover of the area or a ground search.
Police track couple's whereabouts
Police said their preliminary investigation suggests the couple rented a vehicle in Calgary and were planning to travel to Banff, then on to B.C. to visit Golden and Revelstoke on a skiing holiday.
The first night they stayed in Lake Louise. They then drove to the Mountaineer Lodge near Golden at the Kicking Horse Resort, where they spent the night of Feb. 14, police said in statement issued Wednesday afternoon.
The couple checked out of the Mountaineer Lodge on Feb. 15 and went skiing at the resort. Sometime that day they went out of bounds and got lost, police said.
They had left their belongings in the rented vehicle, which was parked in an underground parkade at the Mountaineer Lodge.
Decision not to search disputed
The RCMP released a statement on Wednesday afternoon with details about why there had been no search.
On Feb. 17, a local heli-skiing company received a call from an off-duty ski guide touring the area saying he had spotted an SOS sign and strange tracks west of the Kicking Horse Resort, the statement said.
The Kicking Horse Resort was contacted to check if they had any reports of missing skiers. It appears at this time that the Provincial Emergency Preparedness and the local RCMP detachment were not contacted, said police.
On Feb. 21, a group returning from a ski trip saw two more SOS signs and notified officials at the heli-skiing company who in turn reported it to Golden RCMP, said police.
Staff at the Kicking Horse Resort were contacted and advised that they had previously investigated this incident with no result, said police.
Police have said previously that the Golden and District Search and Rescue Association of British Columbia then decided not to conduct a ground search of the area. But the search and rescue team has disputed that, saying only the RCMP can authorize a search for a missing person.
Family was active, say Montreal neighbours
Meanwhile in Montreal, the couple's 19-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter remain secluded with their grandmother at the family home on a quiet street in LaSalle.
On Wednesday, the curtains were drawn on the home and Gilles Blackburn's work truck, used for his contracting business, sat outside the family duplex.
The children talked to their father after he was rescued, police said.
Neighbours described the family as sporty, always heading off somewhere with their skis or mountain bikes.
Neighbour Louise Cedilot said the daughter came over to borrow something a few days ago and mentioned her parents were on vacation and that she and her brother thought it was strange they hadn't heard from them.
Montreal police said the children reported the couple missing when the two failed to return from their ski trip on Feb. 23.
Cedilot said Fortin, a former nurse, used to come over to help her with cancer injections. Now she can hardly believe what's befallen the couple.
"It's unreal," said Cedilot. "She was so young. She was beautiful."
Cedilot's husband Michel said: "It's terrible. They're the best neighbours you could have
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