By Canadian Press

U.S. hiker dies after falling from popular B.C. hiking trail near Whistler

Jul 11, 2023 | 6:54 PM

WHISTLER, B.C. — Mounties in British Columbia say a 28-year-old American woman has died after falling from a popular hiking trail near Whistler.

Sea to Sky RCMP have identified the woman as Nicole Killian from Richmond, Vermont, who was a member of a rescue team in her hometown.

Sea to Sky officers as well as RCMP Air Services, BC Ambulance paramedics and Whistler Search and Rescue responded to a report that a woman had fallen off the Black Tusk chimney portion of Garibaldi Provincial Park on Monday and was seriously injured.

Police say she died of her injuries a short time after they arrived to provide medical aid.

They say the RCMP, the BC Coroners Service and BC Parks are now working on a joint investigation to determine events leading up the incident.

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They are asking anyone with information to come forward.

“Garibaldi Provincial Park and the Black Tusk is a highly popular area in the Sea to Sky and although readily travelled this remains a technical and advanced level hike,” RCMP Sgt. Sascha Banks said in a news release Tuesday.

“The Black Tusk Chimney and scree portion can be extremely dangerous to even the most skilled adventurer, be sure to trip-plan and assess your abilities prior to attempting this area.”

Police say Killian was a member of the Richmond Rescue team in Vermont. Her family has been notified, they said.

Killian is remembered as a “rescuer of dogs and people alike” who “loved her friends and family deeply,” says a statement from her family, provided by police.

“She had just earned her doctorate as a Nurse Practitioner from NYU after working tirelessly in the ER and Rescue,” the statement said. “She was impeccably herself and is irreplaceable.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2023.

The Canadian Press