Tragic Incident on Mount Mitahara
Authorities in Myoko, Niigata region, confirmed the death of an American man in his 30s due to an avalanche in a backcountry area of Mount Mitahara. The victim, identified as Stuart Remick, was skiing with a group that included individuals from New Zealand, Scotland, and Japan when the avalanche struck.
Rescue Efforts and Outcome
While the other three men in the group were safely rescued without injuries, Remick was unconscious when lifted off the mountain by a Niigata prefectural police helicopter. Despite efforts to save him, he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Mount Mitahara’s Popularity and Past Tragedies
Mount Mitahara and its neighboring peak, Mount Myoko, are known for attracting backcountry skiers and snowboarders. This incident echoes a similar tragedy from a year prior when American champion skier Kyle Smaine and another skier lost their lives in an avalanche on Mount Hakuba Norikura in central Japan.