TAHOE CITY, Calif. — An avalanche Friday at a Lake Tahoe ski resort killed one skier and seriously injured another a day after a storm dumped large amounts of snow throughout the picturesque area.
The avalanche occurred at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, hitting the two skiers on some of the steepest terrain at the resort, where a series of expert runs snake through trees, past cliffs and down narrow chutes.
Officials identified the victim as Cole Comstock, 34, of Blairsden, California. The resort said the injured skier sustained severe lower body-injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had warned of dangerous avalanche conditions for all elevations. Its website said there was “a high degree of uncertainty in regards to snowpack instability near and below treeline.”
The storm dumped up to 25 inches of snow at the top of the resort, said Edan Weishahn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Reno. She said 1 to 2 feet of snow fell in the surrounding mountains over a 24-hour period.
The sheriff’s department said search and rescue crews scoured the rest of the mountain with dogs after the avalanche and did not believe there were any more victims.
“At this point there is no reason to believe any other area of the resort or Alpine Meadows is in jeopardy,” Placer County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Powers said.
Snowboarder Rex Mulvaney of Reno said he noticed some areas had been roped off and people were heading back down the mountain.
“I knew right away something was wrong,” he said. “They don’t usually close something as soon as they open it, like five minutes later.”
An avalanche at Alpine Meadows in March 1982 killed seven people, including several employees of the ski resort. It struck several buildings, including the main lodge and two chairlifts, and buried the resort’s parking lot. One woman was discovered after five days, buried in the remains of the ski chalet.
Alpine Meadows, about 7 miles from Tahoe City, is adjacent to Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 winter Olympics. The two resorts are co-owned by Alterra Mountain Co. and operated as Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.
On its website, Alpine Meadows touts itself as a “picturesque playground for families and off-the-radar thrill-seekers.” The property has more than 100 trails across 2,400 acres, groomed runs and chalet-style lodges.
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