Missing Star Wars Opening Leads To Search For Lost Backcountry Skiers
Two backcountry skiers went for a ski tour on the Dolomite Peak circuit near the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park on Saturday, December 19, 2105. They had planned to return home for the premier of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but did not make it. When they missed the Star Wars opening, their friends and family notified the RCMP.
RCMP and Parks Canada located their car at the trailhead, and decided to send out a helicopter to continue the search in the Sunday morning light. The helicopter was able to land nearby and pick the two men up. They were uninjured. The backcountry skiers had missed a turn and were heading deeper into the Canadian wilderness.
According to Time.com, “Brian Webster, manager of visitor safety with Banff National Park, explained to the Calgary Herald of the decision to send out a search team for the 19 and 26 year old skiers. “If people are missing work or missing school or missing an appointment or something like that, we’ll put a lot more stock into it because they probably really are overdue rather than deciding to stay an extra night.”
“These guys were missing the Star Wars opening … so we knew for sure that they were totally overdue.”
If you’re in the backcountry, always carry the proper navigational tools and be prepared for unexpected emergencies. Glad everyone was alright. These guys will have to watch Star Wars another time.
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