Heart stopping moment skier is rescued after being buried alive under mount of snow in Lake Tahoe
A potential tragedy was narrowly averted at Palisades Tahoe Resort when two quick-thinking skiers rescued a man who was buried in deep snow. The incident, which occurred on February 18, was captured in a wild video that showed the skiers spotting two skis sticking up in the air with only the bottom of a hand holding onto a pole.
Carson Schmidt, one of the skiers who posted the video on social media, recounted how they had just finished a run when they noticed something amiss in the distance. Without hesitation, they skied over to the buried man and immediately started digging to reach him.
Despite being buried under the snow, the man did not move, prompting the skiers to frantically dig through the powder in an effort to rescue him. At one point, a muffled sound could be heard from beneath the snow.
After digging through the snow, the skiers finally reached the buried man and reassured him that they were there to help. The man confirmed that he was okay, and the skiers continued their efforts to free him from the snow.
Schmidt took to social media to emphasize the importance of skiing safely and always having a buddy with you on the slopes. He highlighted that deep snow can pose risks of burial, even without an avalanche or tree well incident.
The exact circumstances that led to the skier being buried remain unclear, as calls to the Palisades Tahoe Resort were not immediately returned. This incident came just a day after a tragic avalanche near Castle Peak claimed the lives of nine backcountry skiers.
The group of skiers had set out on a 3-day trip to escape a winter storm but tragically got caught in the avalanche. All nine victims, including six clients of Blackbird Mountain Guides known as “supermoms,” were recovered from the mountain over the weekend.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon expressed profound sadness over the loss, stating that there are no words to truly capture the significance of the tragedy. The recovery efforts united families, friends, and colleagues in mourning the devastating loss of life in the catastrophic event.
