21 January 2007
Train Noise Puts Lost Skier on Track
Fernie British Columbia - The sounds of a train echoing
high in the alpines helped a disoriented skier find his way back to civilization yesterday after spending a night in the backcountry.
The Medicine Hat man was skiing at Fernie Alpine Resort Friday afternoon, when a small mishap put him in a dangerous position, said
RCMP Cpl. Tom Brannigan.
"The male had been skiing alone on Snake Ridge, an area he was not familiar with, when he crashed and lost his skis in deep
powder," he said.
"After digging for over an hour he gave up, as darkness was approaching, and tried walking out.
"He became disoriented and lit a fire to keep warm."
The man had spent more than eight hours in darkness when, at 1 a.m., he heard a train, said Brannigan.
The skier walked through the night, following the sound, and at 7:45 a.m. arrived at a house.
The man was then recovered by search and rescue personnel, who had looked for the skier until midnight.
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