One person lost their life, and three others sustained injuries in an avalanche that struck the Lake Tahoe area on Wednesday morning. The tragic incident prompted the closure of Palisades Tahoe, a ski resort located over 100 miles north of Sacramento, as officials initiated search and rescue efforts.
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Victim Identified as Kenneth Kidd, 66
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the search efforts have concluded. The person who lost their life was identified as Kenneth Kidd, a 66-year-old resident of Point Reyes and Truckee, located northeast of Palisades Tahoe. Kidd suffered fatal injuries in the avalanche and was pronounced deceased at Tahoe Forest Hospital.
Three additional skiers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, as reported by the resort. The avalanche marked the first fatality of the U.S. avalanche season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which monitors avalanche incidents nationwide.
Avalanche Occurs at Palisades Tahoe Resort
The avalanche occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Palisades Tahoe. The incident unfolded on steep slopes in the GS Gully area, as confirmed by a social media post from the resort. Palisades Tahoe reported that local fire departments responded to the ski area following reports of an avalanche. Multiple agencies collaborated to assist the Palisades Ski Patrol, confirming the avalanche in the GS gully area, situated to the skier’s right of the KT-22 chairlift.
More than 100 personnel from Palisades Tahoe and members of the public joined first responders in the extensive search and rescue operation. Various tools, including avalanche transceivers, probes, RECCO Rescue System technology, and avalanche rescue dog teams, were deployed during the search.
Palisades Tahoe released a statement expressing condolences to the families and friends affected by the incident. The resort announced the closure of the mountain for the rest of the day, citing the dimensions of the avalanche debris field as approximately 150 feet wide, 450 feet long, and 10 feet deep, according to the sheriff’s office.
Details Emerge During News Conference
During a news conference, Sgt. David Smith from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Kenneth Kidd was a guest at Palisades Tahoe. Officials confirmed that the others caught in the avalanche suffered minor injuries, including one person with a lower leg injury, while two others were treated for unspecified injuries and subsequently released.
Dee Byrne, president of Palisades Tahoe, expressed deep sadness during the news conference, calling it a tragic day for the team and everyone involved. Michael Gross, vice president of mountain operations, highlighted that the resort’s ski patrol had conducted avalanche control assessments since Sunday in preparation for the opening day of the season, which was Wednesday.
Gross stated, “They’ve been up there doing control work, evaluating weather conditions, setting up all safety markings, hazard markings, etc., to get them prepared for today’s opening.” The cause of the avalanche remains under investigation, as announced by Byrne.
The incident brings attention to the inherent risks associated with winter sports and the critical importance of safety measures in mitigating such dangers. Avalanche-prone areas require vigilant monitoring and control efforts to ensure the well-being of skiers and visitors to mountainous regions.
As the community mourns the loss of Kenneth Kidd and supports the recovery of the injured, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of avalanches and the need for continuous efforts to enhance safety protocols in mountainous recreational areas.
