Industry News
Jackson Hole ski resort has released a statement explaining that a 25-year-old woman has died after being found unconscious in a group of trees on the Sundance Run, under the Bridger Gondola at 11am today.
The vicitim has been indentifed as 25-year-old Kelsey Hewitt of Portland, OR.Â
Initial investigations indicate that Kelsey fell head first into a tree well and was unable to escape. It appears she suffocated in the tree well.
A tree well is a void or depression that forms around the base of a tree can and contain a mix of low hanging branches, loose snow and air.Â
Jackson Hole has recieved 15″ of new snow in the past 24 hours.
The Jackson Hole News & Guide is reporting that ski patrol responded & attempted life saving techniques. Kesley was transported to the St. John’s Clinic in Teton Village where she was declared dead at 11:38am today.
Kelsey had just moved to Jackson this month for the season and was working at Jackson Hole Sports.
This is the second tree well death at a ski resort in the Western USA this season after a skier died in a tree well just 2 days ago at Snoqualmie Pass ski resort in Washington.
**Learn about Tree Well Suffocation Safety here:
My heart goes out to her family and friends.
I live in NY, love to ski and got my first taste of skiing good powder at a big mountain at Snowmass last winter…I’m hooked and want to experience that more and more.
Ski club trips probably aren’t for me, I’d rather spend a little more money on short notice to go somewhere that is getting the snow and staying cold…my brother refuses to go out west until his children are older…so I see myself going alone…
I count myself among most skiers that want to ski where it’s great – places that unfortunately have hidden tree wells everywhere and the possibility for avalanches…and the thought of ending up in a tree well upside down with nobody to pull me out is horrifying.
Try not to ski alone people.
I’ve even thought of what I’d do if I were skiing alone – be tempted to trail a 50 foot neon orange avalanche cord behind me and have a whistle around my neck, as ridiculous as that may sound.
Again, I’m terribly sorry for her loss.
Kelsey Hewitt was my lovely, free spirited, passionate, brilliant and fun loving niece. Her infectious laugh will stay with all of us in the dark days ahead as we sit by her parents as they donate Kelsey’s organs. A giver to the end of her life!. Kelsey will be missed so deeply by her cousins and her family who loved her fiercely. Losing Kelsey is devastating. It was avoidable and it is utterly tragic. Ski carefully. To honor our dear Kelsey, please honor the planet in any big or small way. She lived to protect the planet and died enjoying it’s beauty.
Thank you Suzi. We are heartbroken over your loss. Our deepest condolences.
I am terribly sorry for your loss. It sounds like she was a really good person.
To the Hewitt family and extended family and friends
My heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your beautiful Kelsey.
I know she will live on in your
hearts and her presence will never leave all that knew her. As a parent and life long skier I understand the love she must have had for the.mtns and snow. Again I am sorry for your loss!