Avalanche
A ski patroller at Palisades Tahoe, California, was injured Thursday morning while en route to perform avalanche control work near the KT-22 chairlift, reports the SF Chronicle. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. after a major storm dumped over two feet of snow in 24 hours, creating significant avalanche risk across the Sierra Nevada. The patroller suffered a leg injury and was transported off the mountain for medical care.
“At approximately 8 a.m. this morning, a member of our ski patrol team sustained a leg injury while en route to perform avalanche mitigation work along the KT-22 Terrain. Our team responded immediately, and the patroller was transported for further medical care. Our thoughts are with our injured team member for a speedy recovery.”
– Official Palisades Tahoe statement
- Related: How the Fatal GS Bowl Avalanche at Palisades Tahoe, CA, Happened and Why it Could Happen Again
According to another SF Chronicle report, later in the day, another avalanche occurred below The Fingers near the KT-22 Lift, within an hour of being opened. A guest was partially buried but quickly dug out by nearby skiers. The resort conducted thorough search efforts using beacons and dogs, confirming no additional injuries.
Unconfirmed online eyewitness reports claim another avalanche came down “on Red Dog run face, and debris flowed to Red Dog lift line.” “I was in the Red Dog line when that other slide happened, and it was scary. The cloud came down to the cat track just above the lift line,” claimed another.
No incidents or observations have yet been reported to the Sierra Avalanche Center.
Yesterday’s avalanche danger was rated considerable, 3 out of 5 on the danger scale. The forecast stated, “You could trigger a large avalanche today, including in wind sheltered, below treeline terrain that is often viewed as safer terrain. Graupel (pellet snow) was observed at the start of the storm in many locations yesterday. If this graupel layer is reactive, wide propagating avalanches may occur, so consider avoiding avalanche terrain today. The density of the new snow should make for good recreation in non-avalanche terrain.”
The snowstorm, which dumped 27 inches of snow at the Central Sierra Snow Lab, is expected to continue, with more snow forecasted for the region. Palisades Tahoe reported 25 inches of fresh snow, making 292 inches this season. The resort’s operations were delayed due to safety concerns, with the upper mountain closed temporarily.
A patroller at Mammoth Mountain, California, died on February 23 this year after being caught in an inbounds avalanche on February 14, and a fatal avalanche at KT-22 at Palisades Tahoe in January 2024 resulted in one death and three rescues.
SnowBrains has contacted Palisades Tahoe for more information and will update this post as necessary.
