Photo: Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows
A second inbounds avalanche in as many weeks has claimed the life of one and seriously injured another at California’s Alpine Meadows near Tahoe City.
“At approximately 10:16 a.m. today an avalanche was reported in the area between Scott Chute and Promised Land near Scott Chair at Alpine Meadows within an open area of the resort,” read a statement released by the mountain. “A male skier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 11am. A second male skier sustained severe lower-body injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.”
The resort reported around 15 inches of new snow overnight and 25 in the last 24 hours. Squaw Valley mountain operations tweeted earlier in the day that it had done avalanche patrol work on Alpine Meadows road.
According to the resort, the ski patrol reacted immediately and went to work searching for survivors with the help of some members of the public, “using avalanche transceivers, probes, RECCO Rescue System technology, and avalanche rescue dog teams.” It was not immediately clear if the victims were wearing transceivers.
“The entire Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows team, including all of the first responders, extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased,” the statement continues. “The cause of the avalanche is unknown at this time pending additional investigation.”
PCSO deputies & our Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue (TNSAR) team has responded to #AlpineMeadows Ski Resort for avalanche near the Subway ski run. One fatality and one serious injury confirmed. #Avalance #cawx pic.twitter.com/4CwsqjjZOW
— Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) January 17, 2020
Last week, three people were killed at Silver Mountain in Northern, Idaho when an inbounds avalanche buried skiers. Five were rescued from the debris. A year ago at New Mexico’s Taos, two skiers were killed in an inbounds avalanche on newly opened terrain. Inbounds avalanches are relatively common occurrences. According to reports, five people were buried at Squaw Valley in 2018. A man was killed at Mt. Rose in 2016, although he was riding in a closed area.
We will update this report as more information becomes available.
