Charles Tuft, R.I.P.: Emergency doctor dies on Vail Mountain's opening day

• Westword: In the January 22nd, 1986 issue of Westword there was a great article about Charlie Tuft's role as the doctor to The Dead.  It would be great if you could re-print the article as a tribute to Charlie or post a link for others to read.

• We knew Charlie too for over 30 yrs and the news articles would have you believe that he was a 'beginner' skier.  In fact he was a skier's skier and had skied over 50 yrs.  On this particular day, he was heading down a catwalk intersecting two trails to finish the day.  Unfortunately a snowboarder slightly ahead of him cut him off and he veered off the trail and suffered massive internal injuries from landing on a tree stump.  Avoiding another skier and trying to avert a collision was what Charlie was attempting to do.  W/the little snow that Vail has had, the embankment was very steep w/little snow on the ground below.

• My condolences, saveH20 -- and thanks for the kind words.

• Thank you for this perspective Micheal,  I have known a been a skiing companion for Dr Charlie for almost 30 years.  Charlie was one of the most accomplished skiers I knew. He lived for the sport and moved to Vail to indulge in his love of skiing with zest and enthusiam.  He was beyond expert and skied with control.  About 20 years ago Charlie broke his neck skiing on Tourist trap and 6 months later, with his neck fused he continued to both golf and ski after his accident. On Friday when his friend found out, we were not only in shock of the loss of our great friend, but also how it was announced....62 year old colorado man dies on beginner slope... That was the truth, but not the 'rest of the story'.

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