Skier dies in incident at Whiteface Mountain

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A 44-year-old man from Atlanta, Georgia died in a skiing incident at Whiteface Mountain in New York's Adirondacks last week. Michael E. Vacek Jr. was found in the tree line along the Upper/Lower Skyward Trail after being reported missing by his skiing companions. Despite emergency efforts, Vacek could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the chest, with the manner of death pending toxicology results.

Why it matters

Skiing accidents and fatalities are relatively rare, but they do occur, especially at popular ski resorts like Whiteface Mountain. This incident highlights the importance of skier safety, proper equipment, and the need for swift emergency response when accidents happen on the slopes.

The details

Vacek's friends reported him missing to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol around 10 a.m. after he failed to return. Ski patrol initiated a search and located Vacek in the tree line along the Upper/Lower Skyward Trail. He was transported to the medical building, where life-saving measures were attempted by local fire and rescue departments, but were unsuccessful. New York State Police responded to the incident around 1:03 p.m.

• Vacek was reported missing to ski patrol around 10 a.m. on February 5, 2026.
• Vacek was found in the tree line and transported to the medical building.
• Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful, and Vacek was pronounced dead at the scene.
• New York State Police responded to the incident around 1:03 p.m. on February 5, 2026.
• The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Michael Sikirica at Glens Falls Hospital.

What’s next

The manner of Vacek's death is pending the results of toxicology tests.