Late on the night of February 20th, Stowe Mountain Rescue was involved in a rescue attempt outside the boundaries of Stowe Mountain Resort after a missing person report.
The rescuers found the victim—a 27-year-old male skier—dead.
AP News reports that the death was likely an accident, although a specific cause hasn't yet been determined or announced. After the recovery, the skier's body was taken to the Vermont chief medical examiner.
The skier was located at 11:45 P.M., near the Upper Perry Merrill trail, according to the Stowe Reporter.
"When you ski in the backcountry, you're facing an entirely different level of risk than resort skiing," Stowe Mountain Rescue wrote on Facebook. "There are multiple hazards, from unexpected cliff bands to hidden rocks, potential snow slides, and deadly tree wells."
Stowe Mountain Rescue also shared several tips in the hopes of avoiding a similar tragedy, noting skiers should "Only ski terrain [they're] familiar with" and "Tell someone their plans" when heading into the backcountry.
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