PINKHAM NOTCH, N.H. — A skier participating in a Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser fell 60 feet to his death Monday after losing control on a trail, police said.

Samuel Moore, 34, of North Conway and originally from Brunswick, Maine, died about 9:30 a.m. at the Wildcat Ski Area in Pinkham Notch, in the White Mountains, after crashing while skiing near the bottom of the Lower Polecat trail in an area known as 5 Corners.

Moore fell and tumbled down the trail before the drop, police said.

N.H. State Police Detective Sheldon Belanger said Moore was wearing a helmet when he fell on the trail, which is rated as a beginner slope.

Forty skiers were participating in the 12th annual 100,000 Vertical Foot Challenge charity event for Make-A-Wish. Skiers were to log a total of 48 trail runs to achieve 100,000 vertical feet over the day.

“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,” said Wildcat General Manager Brian Heon. “My thoughts, and those of Wildcat Mountain and its employees, go out to the family and friends of this man.”

Julie Baron, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish New Hampshire, called Moore’s death devastating.

“We’re all just so deeply saddened by all of today’s events,” she said. “This young man was out there to help kids.”


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