Vail Ski Patrol to honor legacy of Emily Franciose with ski-down
Patrollers will take to Pepi's Face around 5:15 p.m. Thursday with Franciose's mother leading the way
Franciose family/Courtesy photo
Members of Vail Ski Patrol will celebrate the legacy of Emily Franciose on Thursday, March 21, with a ceremonial ski-down of Pepi’s Face. The ski-down is scheduled for approximately 5:15 p.m. after patrollers conclude their sweep of Vail Mountain.
The community is invited to gather at the mountain plaza to cheer on the group of skiers, who will be led by Sue Franciose, Emily’s mother.
The event is being held on the first anniversary of Emily’s death. The Vail local, 18, was swept away by a large avalanche in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps on March 21, 2023, during a backcountry outing with classmates and staff from Ecole d’Humanité.
Emily’s father, Reg, has long served as the ski patrol’s medical director. An expert backcountry skier, Emily attended Vail Mountain School from kindergarten through 11th grade and got an education in mountain safety from members of the Vail Ski Patrol growing up, often helping with the day-end mountain sweeps.
Sue and Reg, in collaboration with Vail Mountain School, have established the Emily Franciose Outdoor Learning Fund with the mission of acquiring or constructing a backcountry hut in Emily’s honor. The fund aims to support Vail Mountain School’s outdoor and environmental education initiatives, benefitting the school and the broader community.
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T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing Emily’s likeness with “I Ski For Emily” that support the fund will be available for sale at the base of the mountain ahead of Thursday’s ski-down.
To donate to the fund, or learn more, go to VMS.edu/support-vms/emily.
