1970–2015

Mark Salesse On Wed. Feb. 11,

Parks Canada Visitor Safety specialists recovered Mark Salesse’s body from under nearly three metres of snow. The snow had accumulated from snowfall and avalanches after Salesse was swept over a 60- metre pitch of ice in a small avalanche on Feb. 5. The avalanche was tr iggered by another climber who was part of a four-person team, including Salesse, who were climbing the ice climb Polar Circus. It is common for climbers to un-rope for the easy terrain between the lower and upper ice pitches. Salesse died on the 33rd anniversary of John Lauchlan’s death. Lauchlan died at the same spot after being taken over the same pitch of ice by an avalanche. Salesse was from Bathurst, N.B. and was a search and rescue technician from 17 Wing in Winnipeg. He was on a training exercise with three other members of the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron at the time of the avalanche. Our condolences to Salesse’s fr iends and family.–