Hiker Heather Davis, 30, of Vancouver fell to her death while hiking above the Sea to Sky Gondola on the weekend, the BC Coroners Service reports.
On Sunday afternoon, the Davis and her boyfriend were hiking on Al’s Habrich Trail when she slipped and fell approximately 20 metres, said Barb McLintock, spokesperson with the provincial coroners service.
Davis apparently stopped a short distance from the trail to have a snack at a viewpoint area when she fell from a ledge, said Kirby Brown, general manager of the gondola.
The couple was hiking by themselves, but two other hikers in the area arrived after the woman’s boyfriend called for help, he added. They were met by Squamish Search and Rescue and the RCMP.
Davis was pronounced dead at the scene, and a helicopter was called in to remove her body.
“They were experienced hikers,” said Brown. “This is truly a horrible accident.”
The Squamish RCMP had been alerted that there was a fatal fall at 3:30 p.m.
“It was quite a substantial fall,” said Sgt. Jolaine Percival.
Al’s Habrich Trail is the gondola’s “flagship backcountry hiking trail” and is referred to as a 12-kilometre advanced trail that takes three to six hours to complete.
*Please note this story has been updated with the identity of the woman who died.
