A Calgary man swept away when an avalanche hit a group of skiers in BC is being remembered as a man who saw joy in all things.
Manfred Rockel, 46, worked in Calgary's oil and gas industry for over 20 years, but spent his weekends in the mountains.
In a statement, his family and friends say he was a seasoned mountaineer who loved to climb, ski, hike and mountain bike.
He was a strong advocate for mountain safety, volunteering as a ski patroller at Lake Louise.
His closest friends, the Manzo family release this statement:
"Manfred Rockel was more than just a man of the mountains. He put such passion into every aspect of life and weaved a deep and loving friendship into our lives along the way. To Manfred, friendship came above all else. Although we shared many great memories in the hills he would move heaven and earth just to make time with us and our two young boys. He saw the joy in all things, even in the mundane, and was just as happy to be skating with our kids as he was bagging a peak with one of us in the bugaboos. He taught us what it meant to be a true friend and in doing so became a part of our family. We will miss him dearly."
Rockel was with a group of 15 skiers when he was buried in an avalanche last weekend in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
