The backcountry skier who has been trapped in a crevasse in the Rockies for the past six days has been identified as a prominent Fraser Valley civil servant.
Mark Taylor, the general manager of Abbotsford’s, parks, recreation and culture department, was reported missing on Wednesday last week.
He was backcountry skiing with his daughter and another man on the Wapta Traverse, near the B.C.-Alberta border, when he fell 35-metres down into a crevasse. The search began when one of the skiers activated a spot beacon to send a distress signal that day.
His companions dug a snow cave and waited out a blizzard until they were rescued on Friday, however, bad weather has hampered the search to free Taylor.
A helicopter and search crew are currently on standby waiting for a break in the clouds in the area, known for its white-out conditions.
Crews are hoping to resume their search Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Hypothermia is a concern, although Parks Canada spokesperson Omar McDadi said the group was well prepared for the weather.
Taylor has worked for the City of Abbotsford for 12 years, and helped land the city the 2016 Summer Games, according to a report in the Abbotsford News.
Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman issued a statement to CTV News about the rescue.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and his family and we respect their need for privacy during this difficult time.”
