Several people rescued after avalanche at Palisades Tahoe ski resort in California as search continues for skiers trapped under snow
Several people have been rescued after an avalanche at California’s Palisades Tahoe ski resort, prompting an emergency response from crews who are now desperately searching for visitors trapped under the snow.
The ski area is closed for a day due to this incident and a major winter storm is on the way.
“Today around 9:30 a.m. at Palisades Tahoe, an avalanche occurred on the Palisades side, specifically over the GS gully area of KT-22,” the resort said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“Our patrol and mountain operations teams are currently conducting a search. We will update with more information as it becomes available.”
There are no reports of injuries at this time.
The Palisades Tahoe ski area in California, formerly Squaw Valley, was hit by an avalanche around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday
The resort receives an average of 450 centimeters of snow each season
Local residents reported that the avalanche occurred for the first time this winter within minutes of the opening of the KT-22 slope
Wind gusts of 100 mph were expected at the Ridgetop today as the resort is battered by a winter storm.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that up to twenty people had been rescued from beneath the snow.
But weather forecaster Mark Sponsler, who works at the resort, said “several” people were missing after the avalanche, which occurred for the first time this winter within minutes of the KT-22 slope opening.
He and his wife arrived at the Palisades Base Area in Olympic Valley on Wednesday morning to ski.
“Apparently the first group of skiers to go up the lift skied down into the bowl below the lift, causing a massive avalanche that spanned the width of the entire bowl,” he wrote on Instagram.
‘Buried several people. Patrol is currently conducting search and rescue operations there. Several people missing.
“Pray that they are found alive. Even with little snow, the avalanche potential is very real. Stay safe and be smart.”
“One person who literally saw it happen told me they saw at least five people disappear under the snow, and only one came up,” he told the SF Chronicle.
‘They saw skis and poles sticking out of the snow.
‘This is not a small slide, this is a really big problem’
The resort covers more than 6,000 skiable acres and averages 180 inches of snowfall per season.
The Sierra Avalanche Center reports a ‘significant’ avalanche danger for today and tomorrow.