Vermont Business Magazine On December 1st2018 at approximately 2:30 pm Vermont State Police received a call from an emergency response company who advised that they received an S.O.S beacon activation from a device they sell. The company had contacted the emergency contact listed for the owner of the device.
It was learned that 46 year old David Gagne of Chester New Hampshire had been skiing the back country at Bolton Valley and had not been seen by his skiing partner in a few hours. Gagne was not familiar with the area.Vermont State Police and Stowe Mountain Rescue responded to the area of the beacon activation on Cotton Brook Road in Waterbury and were able to locate him and give him a ride out of the woods. Gagnehad a problem with his skis and was having difficulty moving in the deep snow when he activated his emergency beacon.
Neil Van Dyke, the Search & Rescue Coordinator, with the Vermont Dept. of Public Safety would like to remind skiers that it is important to stay together and when skiing in the backcountry to carry a map, compass and emergency gear.
Source: State of Vermont 12.1.2018