In what would be a shocking start to a morning, according to the Denver Post, a skier riding a lift at Vail Mountain off Interstate 70 spotted a body in Gore Creek at around 9 a.m. Tuesday. Gore Creek runs through the iconic Colorado mountain town, which is also home to the GoPro Mountain Games each summer.
According to police, the man was Maldwyn George Zang, 59, a longtime Vail local. There were sunglasses and a backpack found in the stream nearby, which made it look as though he might have fallen into the water and hit his head. There was also a cut on the bridge of his nose. He apparently wasn’t wearing snow gear. The case is still under investigation as the town mourns the death of one of its own.
Resort officials re-routed skiers to different entrances to the resort after the Lionshead access point was closed due to the investigation. It was later re-opened.