'Deeply Talented' Guide Killed in Avalanche on Mount Dixon

Media Release

NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) and the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA) are responding to the tragic death of mountain guide and Remarkables ski patroller Troy Forsyth, who died in an avalanche on the east face of Mount Dixon in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on Sunday (18 October).

The 28-year-old was an Avalanche Snow Safety Officer and Ski Patroller at The Remarkables Ski Area in Queenstown, and an Assistant Ski Guide with the NZMGA.

Troy was with three other experienced ski mountaineers when the avalanche occurred near the summit of Mount Dixon while the party was skiing down the east face.

NZMGA spokesperson, friend and fellow Remarkables ski patroller Will Rowntree says Troy was skiing with experienced friends and was not working in a professional capacity on this occasion.

Troy Forsyth

“Troy was a deeply talented and respected practitioner within his field. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends and colleagues,” says Rowntree.

MSC Chief Executive Mike Daisley says the tragedy is a sobering reminder of the inherent risks associated with skiing and mountaineering in New Zealand’s high alpine environment.

“Troy was also an MSC-endorsed avalanche educator. The alpine community is a close-knit one, and Troy’s passing will be deeply felt by all those who knew him and shared his passion for the mountains,” says Daisley.

“Ski mountaineering takes place in a complex and constantly changing environment. Avalanches are one of the hazards that can have devastating consequences, even for those with extensive experience and specialist knowledge. Experience, training and careful decision-making are fundamental to managing alpine risk, but they cannot eliminate it entirely.”

Mount Dixon, also known as Dixon Peak, is a prominent peak in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, within the Southern Alps. Its steep alpine faces, glaciated terrain and high mountain environment present significant challenges for climbers and ski mountaineers, with highly changeable conditions and snow stability.

MSC and NZMGA extend their sincere condolences to Troy’s family, friends, colleagues and the wider mountain, guiding and snow safety communities.

PHOTO CREDIT | Loic Lassueur | Aoraki/Mount Cook