Nathan Scott, 24, of Jasper, was found alive and well on March 23, after spending nearly 24 hours stranded outside the Marmot Basin ski area boundary.

Scott ventured outside the boundary on March 22, with no backcountry gear to assist him if he became lost or encountered an avalanche.

Mike Westbrook, Parks Canada resource management and public safety specialist, and director of plans for searches, said this is not uncommon. Many people that head out into the backcountry take the sense of security that they feel within the ski area boundary with them, often not allowing the time and effort it takes to make the right decisions before heading into the areas beyond the resort.

Thea Mitchell, communications officer with Parks Canada, said Scott left the Marmot Basin ski boundary over Marmot Peak, a popular hike that provides access to the backcountry.

With knowledge of the terrain, a skier or boarder would curve right and come back to the Whistlers Creek ski track that leads to parking lot four at Marmot Basin. Scott, who became disoriented and exhausted in the terrain, left the trail at one point, became lost and eventually ended up in an area known to locals as the Edge of the World.

“What we can say, is that Nathan [Scott] is strong, fit and determined,” said Westbrook. “That led to him being up the next day.”

Westbrook explained that as soon as Scott knew he was lost, he took the right steps to ensure his overnight survival, including turning off his iPod to save batteries, and laying on his board to stay dry. He also tried to get to a place he could orient himself to try and find his way out, as he knew that no one was aware of where he was.

Mitchell said the report that Scott was missing came in at 8 p.m. on March 22, and Parks, the RCMP and Marmot Basin Public Safety staff began a search to find the snowboarder. On Wednesday morning, a ground search began, by all parties, in town and at Marmot Basin and the areas adjacent.

Westbrook said that a ski patroller sweeping the area  discovered a snowboard track leaving a trail – this was about 24 hours after Scott had left the ski area boundary.

Mitchell said that at about 5:30 p.m., the aerial search team spotted Scott’s tracks in the snow and followed them to a forested area where he was found. 

“Because of the many trees, a ground crew was dispatched to go in and find Scott and walk him out,” said Mitchell.

Scott was taken to Seton General Hospital and was not suffering any apparent injuries.

“Parks Canada recommends that anyone heading out into the backcountry have the proper gear and information on where they are heading, snow conditions and avalanche terrain,” said Mitchell.

Jeff Andrews, Marmot Basin public safety director, said that it is important to remember that within the ski area boundary, it is the safety staff that make the decisions for skiers and boarders. It is the staff that provide signage, fence lines and ropes to mark the areas that people should not go. Andrews agreed with Westbrook that people sometimes take that sense of security with them when they leave the boundaries.

He said that areas closed within the ski area boundary are clearly denoted with signage and fence lines and the consequences of ignoring this signage are very serious.

“A lot of people choose to ‘duck’ into closed avalanche terrain thinking they are only putting themselves at risk, but the risk extends far beyond that in my view,” said Andrews. Safety staff are also put at risk if someone requires a rescue in these areas, and there is also the risk of others seeing the tracks leading into the area and thinking it is safe for them to do so.

Andrews explained that the consequences of entering permanent avalanche closures can be severe. Penalties for doing so include the loss of skiing privileges for day pass holders, a 24-hour suspension for multi-day pass holders and a two-week suspension for season’s pass holders.

“Multiple violations of season’s pass holders can also result in being banned from the ski hill,” he said.

In the most extreme cases, and Andrews said this is happening more often, skiers can be charged with trespassing under the Petty Trespassing Act. This charge carries a fine of up to $3,000.

“We have removed upwards of 15 passes in the past week,” said Andrews. “On Sunday [March 27], two Edmonton men were charged under the Petty Trespassing Act.”

The men had entered a permanently closed area, became lost and initiated a 911 call. They were later rescued.

See next week’s Fitzhugh for an in-depth story on search and rescue procedures and how to be prepared to head into the backcountry.