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Aussie teen rescued after spending night on Blackcomb Mountain

Whistler RCMP Briefs: Snowmobiling accidents continue; domestic dispute causes concern
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An Australian man was ill-equipped for a night outdoors this week when he was stranded on Blackcomb Mountain, police said.

Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol received a report of the missing teen on the night of March 26 from a friend who said he became lost while skiing near the Wedge Creek Valley. The teen was able to pass along his GPS coordinates to the friend, who relayed them to police that night.

"He wasn't equipped or prepared for a night out, however, after an assessment it was determined that search and rescue would be activated in the morning," said Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.

Although rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather, volunteer searchers located the man and stayed with him until a helicopter could arrive to escort him out of the area.

The 18 year old suffered no injuries, police said.

More snowmobiling accidents in the Sea to Sky

Less than two weeks after a rash of snowmobile accidents in the Sea to Sky — including the death of a Seattle man near Pemberton — local authorities once again had their hands full dealing with injured sledders.

The first incident took place on Friday, March 25 when a man called Pemberton RCMP to report his friend had been injured in the Hidden Valley area of the Pemberton Icecap, police said. A cornice broke way, sending the sledder hurtling down approximately 300 metres. He suffered injuries to his ribs and midsection and had difficulty breathing, and was eventually evacuated by search and rescue crews.

"I believe the avalanche danger was considerable that day, so you want to be really, really cautious, and stopping on a cornice is probably not reasonable behaviour," said LeClair, who noted that police observed "some human-triggered avalanches" in the area that day.

On March 28, a man called Whistler RCMP to say that his friend broke his leg while on a snowboarding and snowmobiling trip in the Brandywine area. Details were scarce at press time, but LeClair said the man was recovered by rescue personnel.

Later that day, police were notified after an emergency beacon was activated near Semaphore Lake north of Pemberton over a snowmobiler who had sustained a broken ankle.

The man was eventually heli-vac'd to safety.

Last week, Whistler Search and Rescue manager Brad Sills spoke out about the strain snowmobilers have been placing recently on local rescue efforts.

"Something is changing, whether it's the technology or the demographic," he said. "(Snowmobiling) has already replaced backcountry skiing as our No. 1 winter response."

Whistler woman throws knife at boyfriend, police say

A domestic dispute turned scary this week when a "grossly intoxicated" Whistler woman threw a knife at her boyfriend, police said.

Police responded to the incident at a unit in the 4600 block of Blackcomb Way early March 26 where officers learned the 34-year-old female assaulted her boyfriend by "slapping him and throwing a knife at him," LeClair said.

Police said the woman had been drinking heavily and was difficult during the arrest. A search also found a small amount of suspected cocaine on the suspect, who now faces charges of assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of a controlled substance.

Whistler man assaults nightclub staff while being ejected for cocaine, police say

A Whistler man is facing a trio of charges after he was caught using cocaine at a village nightclub and became violent with door staff, police said.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday, March 23, club staff reported an altercation between the man, a 31-year-old Whistler resident originally from the U.K., and several bouncers.

Police said the incident began when staff discovered the man attempting to use suspected cocaine in the washroom. The suspect reportedly became "assaultive" with staff as he was being escorted from the premises while trying to dispose of the drugs, said LeClair.

"He attempted to kick and shove the doormen, causing them to subdue him on the ground until police arrived," added LeClair.

Police also seized a small amount of cocaine and two capsules of suspected MDMA from the man. He now faces charges of assault, mischief and possession of a controlled substance.