Arrr, thar be a California ski resort what be reopenin' aft'r a poor soul be taken by th' first avalanche o' th' season.
2024-01-11
Avast ye, mateys! 'Twas a raging tempest o' snow and gusty winds that be sendin' a mighty avalanche down upon Palisades Tahoe, a fine Californian skallywag's ski haven near Lake Tahoe. Sadly, one poor soul met Davy Jones' locker, whilst three others were left feelin' worse for wear.
A 66-year-old skier died in an avalanche at a California ski resort near Lake Tahoe, marking the first U.S. avalanche death of the winter season. The Palisades Tahoe ski resort reopened the day after the incident, but the iconic KT-22 lift remained closed as crews worked to clear the area. The resort stated that other lifts would open later in the day after a "rigorous snow safety day." The avalanche occurred during a storm, sweeping up four people and killing one. The debris field was approximately 150 feet wide, 450 feet long, and 10 feet deep. The victim was identified as Kenneth Kidd, a resident of nearby Truckee and Point Reyes. One person sustained a leg injury, while two others were treated for unspecified injuries and released. The Sierra Avalanche Center's forecast for the central Sierra backcountry predicted ongoing dangerous avalanche conditions. The resort had just opened the KT-22 lift for the season 30 minutes before the avalanche hit. The resort received 14 inches of snow on Wednesday, and the conditions were evaluated by experts before the lift was deemed safe to open. On average, there are about 24 avalanche deaths in the U.S. each year. Most avalanches occur during or after a snowstorm, strong winds, or rapid temperature increases. While most incidents happen in backcountry areas, ski resorts monitor conditions within their boundaries. The U.S. Forest Service determined that the Taos Ski Valley complied with safety procedures in a 2019 avalanche incident that resulted in two deaths. The Sierra Avalanche Center focuses on backcountry areas where no mitigation is conducted and does not comment on avalanches within ski resort boundaries.