SUNDAY THE VOICE GF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER January 8, 1989 News 985-2131 Classified 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 36 pages 25¢ X-country skier faces | search bi THE MANAGER of Cypress Bow! says he wil! bill a cross-country skier — who skied oul-of-bounds at Cypress Monday and cnded up at the bottom of Grouse Mountain ~ for search costs incurred by the mountain. Cypress Bowl staff were again called in to search for a missing skier at the popular ski area just five days after five lost downhill skiers were plucked from the mountain when they skied out of bounds. The most recent search was ini- tiated in the cross-country ski area of the resort when 40-year-old Doug Prentice failed to mect, at a predetermined time and place, with two people he had been skiing & WAYNE BOOTH ... Cypress Bow! geweral manager says skier will be billed for search costs. But the search was called off when Prentice telephoned the Cypress Bowl cross-country ski of- fice from the Grouse Mountain gondola base. According to the Cypress employee who took the call, Prentice said he skied past boundary signs in the cross-coun- try area because he wanted to try something adventurous. He said that after skiing from the side of Hollyburn Peak, he was unabie to tum back. Cypress Bowl general manager Wayne Booth said Prentice will be billed for search costs incurred by the mountain: *‘Mr. Prentice skied out of bounds and it triggered another search. Once we give him the bill, I think we may consider giving him an award or something By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter for ending up on Grouse.”’ Prentice had last been seen at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday on the Romstad ski trail in an area known as the Waterboard Cabin Plateau. According to his skiing partners, Prentice had planned to take a solo run down from Hollyburn Peak before rejoining them. Prentice was reported miss- ing at 4:45 p.m. A search of the area was commenced by 5 p.m. The North Shore Rescue Team was called to stand by at 6:20 p.m. By 7:20 p.m. searchers had identified three sets of tracks going out of bounds from the top of Hollyburn Peak. But the search was called off when Prentice tele- phoned from Grouse Mountain. Cypress Bowl ski hill manage- ment billed each of the five skiers rescued Dec. 28 $264.60 Wednes- day. More than 50 people, including North Shore Rescue Team volun- teers and ski hill employees, aided in the search and rescue of Steven Knox, 17, of North Vancouver, Craig Fourier, 16, of West Van- couver, Brendan Leblanc, 17, of Sardis, Bradley McDonald, 17, of Revelstoke, and Casey Clelland, 17, of Kelowna. The rescue cost the company close to $3,200, but Booth said he has chosen to absorb labor, management and equipment costs. Booth said he had not determin- ed what he would charge Prentice for Monday’s search. Said Solicitor-General Angus Ree of the bid to collect money for search and rescue costs: ‘‘I sup- ported the proposition of him bill- ing the other five. I personally support it, and I know the gov- emment will be looking at the issue. But there are a lot of dif- ficulties with it. For example, if they’re young people, can they be held liable? Can you collect from the parents?”’ Ree said his staff will be examin- ing the issue. But he said, ‘*In terms of legislation, that would be at least a year away.”’ ia BA Fan ae & an ae ut 3 q = us re . Say Tp eee NTE RE CASRAS TNT: GUTAE SPLOP EG OTE RESTA See SR A CGE RESON Ue ee a NEWS photo Nol Lucente Taking the piunge FOUR-YEAR-OLD Sarah Ccaway is given a kelping hand by instructor Arlene Hatto as she learns to tacklz the slopes of Grouse Mountain. Sarah was a participant in the mountain’s Ski Wee program that teaches children three to six years old the basics of this popular winter activity.