12159
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Breaking: avalanche @ Calif ski resort/Lake Tahoe
URL: https://apnews.com/article/avalanche-california-ski-resort-482ec822c87a9ed5829001f8ac887a3b
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Searches underway following avalanche at California ski resort near Lake Tahoe BY CHRISTOPHER WEBER AND STEFANIE DAZIO Updated 1:15 PM PST, January 10, 2024 LOS ANGELES (AP) — An avalanche roared through a section of expert trails at a California ski resort near Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, forcing Palisades Tahoe to close only 30 minutes after it opened. Search crews were combing the area to see if anyone was injured or trapped as a major storm with snow and gusty winds moved into the region. The avalanche occurred around 9:30 a.m. on steep slopes under the KT-22 lift, which serves “black diamond” runs for skilled skiers and snowboarders. Palisades Tahoe said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that it’s search teams were checking an area called GS Gully and that both sides of the mountain at the resort would be closed for the rest of the day. Sgt. David Smith, a spokesperson for the Placer County sheriff, said there were no reports of people missing by midday Wednesday. “They don’t believe at this point in time that anybody’s trapped,” Smith told The Associated Press, but added it’s a “fluid situation” on the mountain. |
12162
From: ryan, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Breaking: avalanche @ Calif ski resort/Lake Tahoe
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Palisades Tahoe experiences a second avalanche in under 30 hours Resort officials say no one was injured in Thursday's avalanche By Alec Regimbal, SFGATEUpdated Jan 11, 2024 6:55 p.m. Suzie Dundas/SFGate A second avalanche occurred at Palisades Tahoe on Thursday, just a day after a separate avalanche killed a 66-year-old guest at the ski resort. Resort officials said that no one was injured in Thursday’s avalanche, which occurred near Wolverine Bowl on the Alpine side about 12:30 p.m. Members of the ski patrol used search and rescue methods, including RECCO — a radar rescue system — and dog patrols to confirm that no one was injured, Patrick Lacey, a resort spokesperson, told SFGATE in an email. “After searches were completed and it was confirmed that no guests or employees were involved, the area was cleared by Ski Patrol and the lift was reopened,” Lacey wrote. Wednesday’s avalanche occurred at 9:30 a.m. in an area of the ski resort known as the GS Bowl, which is accessed by the KT-22 chairlift. That chairlift allows access to some of the more advanced terrain in the area, and was opened for the first time this season on Wednesday. The man killed was identified by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office as Kenneth Kidd, a resident of both Point Reyes and the Truckee area. Three other skiers were injured in that avalanche, Palisades said. |
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12160
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Breaking: avalanche @ Calif ski resort/Lake Tahoe
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Note: my family used to take winter vacations in that area (Donner lake/squaw valley). One memorable year my dad rented a couple of snowmobiles. We took turns riding out across squaw valley and back. I was about 10 yrs old...and my cousin was on one, I was on the other. We got out about a mile and were turning back when a sudden blizzard came over the ridge. When I say sudden, I mean in a matter of a couple of minutes...seemingly out of no where (back then, satellite weather forcasting was not what it is now). I could not see more than 1 foot in front of my face. I could not see the lodge where I came from. I could not see my cousin. Being 10 yrs old, I did not do the smartest thing, but what I did was turn my snowmobile around and head the opposite way I came where I "thought" the lodge was. I drove slow..and it seemed forever I was lost inside a white globe. Suddenly, there was a dark figure in front of my snowmobile who jumped aside at the last moment. It was my cousin who had abandoned her snowmobile and was trying to walk back in the blizzard, hopelessly lost. She climbed on the back of mine and we continued ...slowly, in the direction I "thought" my parents at the lodge were. After...forever...a wall appeared 2 feet ahead of the vehicle. I actually couldn't slow it down fast enough and bumped into it (we rolled off). We followed the wall to the front of the building where our parents embraced us so hard. They had been preparing to send rescuers out for us. Everyone was relieved. I remember this area well! I still feel cold when I think about the ordeal. I really hope there are no skiiers lost. May take them a while to figure out if anyone is really missing. Prayers for all. |
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12161
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Breaking: avalanche @ Calif /Lake Tahoe: at least 1 dead
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1 killed, 1 injured in avalanche at popular Lake Tahoe- area ski resort BY SUMMER LINSTAFF WRITER JAN. 10, 2024 UPDATED 2:06 PM PT One person was killed and another was injured in an avalanche Wednesday at a popular ski resort near Lake Tahoe, officials said. The avalanche at the Palisades Tahoe resort occurred about 9:30 a.m. above the G.S. Gully area of the KT-22 peak, the resort said in a statement. Patrol and mountain operations teams began a search, and all lifts on both the Palisades and Alpine Meadows sides of the mountain resort were closed for the rest of the day. Placer County sheriff’s deputies and the Olympic Valley Fire Department assisted with the search and rescue operation, authorities said on social media. The nature of the injuries and the identities of the victims were not made public. No other people have been reported missing in the avalanche, whose debris field was 150 feet wide, 450 feet long and 10 feet deep, authorities said. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was also monitoring the situation, though it was not directly involved in search and rescue efforts as of Wednesday afternoon. Brian Ferguson, spokesperson for the office, called the emergency a “local operation at this point.” “It’s fairly early in their response right now, but the state is ready to help them if the help is needed,” he said. The avalanche came as one of the strongest storms to hit California so far this winter is expected to drop 12 to 18 inches of snow across the Lake Tahoe area between Wednesday and Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. A winter storm warning has been issued for those communities, including Truckee and South Lake Tahoe. The Sierra Avalanche Center, which provides avalanche information for the greater Tahoe area, had forecast “considerable” avalanche danger for Wednesday due to the storm and strong winds. The risk was expected to increase throughout the afternoon and into the evening. The center warned that “weak snow” is buried about 1 to 2 feet below the snow surface throughout the region, which has resulted in avalanches during two storms over the last week. Wednesday’s storm was expected to pose a risk of unloading the weak layers and causing more avalanches. Elevations above 7,000 feet west of Highway 89 could get 18 to 24 inches of snow, while the highest mountain peaks could see up to 30 inches of snow. Wind gusts are also expected to reach as high as 50 mph in lower elevations and 90 to 110 mph along the Sierra Nevada ridges. Travel could be impossible; morning and evening commutes are expected to be affected. Southern California could see winds as high as 80 mph as residents brace for an onslaught of chilly weather. The low-pressure system moving across the region Wednesday into Thursday will bring cold temperatures, strong winds, mountain snow and the chance for showers, according to the National Weather Service. A high wind warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday until noon Thursday for portions of southwest California, including Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara islands, the Santa Clarita Valley, the Malibu coast, the western Santa Monica Mountains, the San Fernando Valley, the western San Gabriel Mountains and the eastern Antelope Valley foothills. Winds could reach 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph possible in isolated areas, posing a risk to trees and power lines. People should avoid being outside around tree branches and stay in the lower levels of their home during the windstorm, officials said. A winter storm warning has also been issued for the northern Ventura County mountains and the Interstate 5 corridor, including the Tejon Pass, from 4 p.m. Wednesday until noon Thursday, according to the weather service. Light to moderate snow is expected, with total accumulations of 2 to 5 inches. Winds could reach 60 to 70 mph, with isolated gusts up to 80 mph possible. Travel could be dangerous, with the strong winds causing tree damage and almost zero visibility. The storm will bring a chance of rain showers and snow in lower-elevation areas near Kern County, but totals are expected to be under 3 inches of snow and under a tenth of an inch of rain. It’s expected to dry up by Thursday morning, although windy conditions could still continue through the late morning. The weather service also issued a coastal flood advisory for beaches in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Large, breaking waves could reach 10 to 15 feet Wednesday and 12 to 17 feet Thursday, along with dangerous rip currents. Flooding is likely during high tide, especially over low-lying coastal areas such as beaches, walkways and parking lots, just weeks after the coast was battered by heavy rainfall, flooding and rogue waves in December storms. |
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