Photo: Johnny Chilton, Mountain Life Media
The mountains are unforgiving beasts. And they do not discriminate. Lisa Korthals, a beloved heli guide in British Columbia was killed yesterday in the South Creek backcountry area near Pemberton when she was caught in a slide just after 2:30 p.m. She was apparently on a tour with a group of people when she was swept away. She was rushed to a hospital in Whistler where she later died.
It was not immediately clear whether Korthals, 49, was on a heli trip at the time but local publications reported that a heli-ski company had contacted authorities about the incident.
Korthals had lived in the Whistler area for 25 years and along with being a guide, was also a realtor. She was a well-loved member of the community. “Experience doesn’t soften the blow of hearing we’ve lost another beautiful soul to the mountains,” wrote filmmaker Mike Douglas.
Korthals was an accomplished ski mountaineer. She completed a daunting descent of Alaska’s 14,470-foot University Peak in 2002, notched a first descent of 18,619-foot Pico del Orizaba, Mexico’s highest volcano, and had skied the central couloir of British Columbia’s Joffre Peak. According to Mountain Life Media, Korthals had worked for Mike Wiegele Heliskiing, Whistler Heli-Skiing and Bella Coola Heli Sports. She leaves behind her husband, Johnny “Foon” Chilton, a legendary British Columbia skier and craftsman, and son, Tye.
