Tragic Discovery: Body of Missing Snowboarder Found at Vail Mountain

VAIL, Colo. — The body of missing snowboarder Connor Gill was discovered on Friday, Feb. 28, confirmed Eagle County Coroner Kara Bettis. Gill had been missing since Feb. 14, when he was reported overdue by his ski partner at Vail Ski Patrol.

Gill, a 26-year-old intermediate snowboarder from the Denver area, was last tracked in the Chair 2 area of Vail Mountain during a winter storm that brought several feet of snow. This severe weather complicated search efforts, which began immediately after he was reported missing.

After being lost for nearly two weeks, Gill’s body was found after several days of warm weather and no snowfall, leading to improved search conditions. On Monday, Bettis confirmed the identification of the body as Gill’s.

“On behalf of Vail Mountain and Vail Ski Patrol, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our guest,” said Beth Howard, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Mountain. “We appreciate all of the rescue agencies who conducted this search alongside Vail Ski Patrol.”

The search involved over a dozen agencies, including Vail Ski Patrol, Eagle County Sheriff's Office, Vail Mountain Rescue, Vail Police Department, and various ski patrols from surrounding areas, among others. The challenging weather, with wind gusts reaching 40 mph and heavy snowfall, hindered the timely deployment of search dogs and drones.

Gill’s ski pass was last scanned when he boarded the Avanti Express chairlift shortly before 9 a.m. on Feb. 14. His situation was reported to authorities around 3:15 p.m., leading to the extensive search effort that followed.

The Eagle County Chief Deputy Coroner McKenna Peoples has not disclosed further details regarding the cause of death or the location where Gill was found, as the investigation remains ongoing.

The tragic end to Gill’s search has prompted a renewed focus on backcountry safety amid the winter sports community, stressing the need for awareness in unpredictable weather conditions.