Image provided by Tk'emlups Rural RCMP

By Dylana Kneeshaw

missing: tomasz jaholkowski

Extensive search for Sun Peaks skier last seen Tuesday spreads into second day

Dec 12, 2024 | 4:34 PM

SUN PEAKS, B.C. — A large search effort is underway at Sun Peaks Resort, just outside of Kamloops, for a missing skier.

Police, search and rescue teams, and Sun Peaks Ski Patrol have been looking for 68-year-old Tomasz Jaholkowski. He appeared to be skiing alone, last seen getting in line at the new West Bowl Chairlift Tuesday morning (Dec. 10) around 11:35 a.m., and after that, the resort says his ski pass wasn’t scanned at any other chairlifts that day.

Search teams were on site throughout the day on Wednesday, overnight Wednesday evening, and all day Thursday. The weather is relatively mild for this time of year, but the extended time outdoors has police and SAR crews concerned.

“It doesn’t appear that he returned to his hotel room after, at the end of the day, and police are concerned for his wellbeing,” states Tk’emlups Rural RCMP Detachment spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn.

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Search and Rescue teams spent Thursday flowing in and out of a command base set up at the village level in Sun Peaks. Ground search teams are on snowmobiles, skis and snowshoes, while drones, helicopters and search planes have been brought in for an overhead look.

“Last night, we had the Talon helicopter from North Shore Search and Rescue with its night vision and other equipment looking for the missing man,” explains Kamloops Search and Rescue President Paula Davies, who was working among search teams in Sun Peaks straight through the night and into Thursday morning.

Multiple search teams from around the Thompson Nicola Regional District were on site Thursday, including Barriere SAR, Kamloops SAR, Shuswap SAR and Vernon SAR. Cameras on the resort chairlift entry points were able to capture an image of what the missing man could be wearing, and Kamloops Search and Rescue says the visibility was on their side throughout Thursday, with minimal fog or cloud cover.

“It’s a little bit chillier today. Yesterday, it was -1 for most of the day, so that’s actually pretty mild. We’re lucky,” notes Davies. “But yeah, just the concern is for the subject being out there this long in cold weather.”

Jaholkowski was last seen at the West Bowl Chairlift on Tod Mountain, but the search area is spread around the hill, both inbounds and out of bounds.

“West of the West Bowl chairlift, the new chairlift, and also far east past the eastern boundary of the ski resort,” says Davies. “It’s quite an extensive area.”

Jaholskowski is described as follows:

• White
• 5’10″
• Approximately 180 lbs
• Grey hair
• Brown eyes
• Last seen wearing a red and black ski jacket, dark ski pants, and a dark toque.

“We’re reaching out to the public to see if maybe after that 11:35 a.m check-in on that run that maybe somebody came across him in a different area, and they can help us maybe narrow down some of the areas to continue looking,” reiterates Cpl. Evelyn.

Mounties say information and tips can be directed to the Tk’emlups Rural RCMP detachment at 250-314-1800 and reference file number 2024-40263