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BC Coroners Service identify snowcampers found dead on Blackcomb Mountain

Father and daughter die after boulder hits their tent
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The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a father and daughter who died while snow-camping on Blackcomb Mountain on May 12, 2013.

They were Trevor Norman, aged 49, and his daughter Zarah, aged 10. The family resides in North Vancouver.

The two were on a weekend skiing and snow-camping trip near Blackcomb Mountain, and had set up their tent-camp at the base of a 20-metre rock face on the evening of May 11. A family member reported them missing when they had not checked in as planned on May 12.

It appears that a large rock fell on their tent as the father and daughter were sleeping, killing them both.

Whistler RCMP received the report around 6 p.m. on May 12 after the skiers missed their scheduled check-in several hours earlier.

"The report was that a father/daughter duo had gone up Blackcomb Mountain on May 11th to camp out overnight and ski tour," said RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton, operations NCO for Whistler RCMP. "They were to check in on the 12th around 1600hrs (4 p.m.) When they failed to check in as planned we received a call."

Whistler RCMP activated local search and rescue and coordinated a search in conjunction with Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol.

"The search ran from just after 7 p.m. until approximately 11 p.m. when it was suspended for the night due to safety reasons," said Knapton. "The search was reconvened this morning at 6:30 a.m. using multiple teams from Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and Lions Bay and included an air component."

At approximately 11:30 a.m. in the morning searchers located a tent above an area known as "the Wind Lip."

"The tent was located at the base of a rock face," said Knapton.

"From our investigation it appears that a large boulder fell from the rock face at some point, landing on the tent with both occupants inside and killing them both."

"The BC Coroners Service expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Trevor and Zarah Norman, and its thanks to the Whistler- Blackcomb Ski Patrol and Whistler RCMP, as well as the search-and-rescue and helicopter teams from Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and Lions Bay for their assistance with this most tragic case," said Barb McLintock of the Corners Service.

Blackcomb Glacier, where Wind Lip is located is part of Garibaldi Provincial Park and people are allowed to camp within the park.