A leisurely day on the slopes at Whiteface Mountain turned to tragedy Wednesday, claiming the life of a Georgia man. Sun Community News reports around 10 a.m., a group of friends noticed someone missing from their ski group. A report was made to Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol that Michael E. Vacek Jr., 44, failed to return from the trails. Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol initiated a search and soon located Vacek in the tree line along the Upper/Lower Skyward Trail. Vacek was transported to the medical building, where life-saving measures continued by the local fire and rescue departments but their efforts were unsuccessful. Vacek was pronounced deceased at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday at Glens Falls Hospital.