Skier Dies While Participating in Make-A-Wish Fundraiser

The accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Monday

A 34-year-old New Hampshire man skiing at a Make-a-Wish fundraiser plunged 60 feet off the slopes to his death Monday morning.

Samuel Moore of North Conway was skiing in the 5 Corners area at Wildcat Mountain in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, around 9:30 a.m. when he lost control, tumbled down the trail and fell over a 60-foot drop, state police say. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Moore was at the ski mountain participating in the Make-A-Wish Foundation's 12th annual 100,000 Vertical Foot Challenge fundraising event.

According to Skiwildcat.com, the field was limited to 40 participants and challenged skiers and riders to log a total of 48 runs on the Lynx Trail to achieve 100,000 vertical feet over nine hours, non-stop.

That leaves an average of 4.5 minutes to complete each run. The event was open to skiers and riders of all abilities, and helmets were required for the event.

Prior to this year, the event had raised more than $595,000 to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire.

Organizers stopped the event following the incident, Wildcat said.

"This is a tragedy to what is traditionally a fun and self-fulfilling challenge for participants and a major fundraising event for Make-A-Wish of New Hampshire," Wildcat General Manager Brian Heon said. "My thoughts, and those of Wildcat Mountain and its employees, go out to the family and friends of this man."

Assisting at the scene were the Gorham EMS, Wildcat Ski Patrol, the U.S. Forest Service and state police. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police Detective Sgt. Sheldon Belanger at 603-846-5517. 

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