Skier Trevor Sexsmith died on September 25, 2016 when an avalanche swept him over a cliff in western Canada.

Skier Trevor Sexsmith died on September 25, 2016 when an avalanche swept him over a cliff in western Canada.
Photo Credit: Facebook

Backcountry skier swept over cliff dies

Trevor Sexsmith, 27, died when a small avalanche swept him over a cliff near Lake Louise in western Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Sexsmith and other backcountry skiers travel to remote locations, sometimes over water, and climb mountains to ski down pristine icefields.

Brazeau Icefield Skiing September 11-13, 2016 posted by Trevor Sexsmith on Vimeo shows the thrill of skiing Canada’s backcountry.

While the practice is thrilling, it can be dangerous. The area where Sexsmith died was dubbed“The Death Trap” because of the high risk of avalanches and overhead dangers.

A photo from Parks Canada shows where the body of Trevor Sexsmith was found.
A photo from Parks Canada shows where the body of Trevor Sexsmith was found. © Parks Canada

Bad weather scotches ascent

Last Sunday, Sexsmith and a friend were climbing Mount Victoria when they decided to turn back because of high winds. There were no avalanche warnings at the time.

An official with the parks department says Sexsmith was not killed by the avalanche but by the drop of between 75 and 100 metres.

‘It really was his life’

“He was an avid skier, it really was his life,” brother Brian Sexsmith told CBC News. He was amazed by the response from friends. “It has been very apparent with a lot of people calling me. I had no idea how many people he had touched out in B.C. (British Columbia province). Obviously (he garnered) a lot of respect in the community.”

He added that the accident could be a wake-up call for fellow skiers.

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