It is with sincere and deep regret that Unofficial has learned that the male skier caught in today’s avalanche who was first reported to be critically injured has passed away. According to CBS news in Sacramento the skier passed away as result of the injuries he sustained due to a slide he and two backcountry partners were involved in near Stanford Rock in the Ward Valley area of the Tahoe backcountry.
According to CBS news, who cites the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department, the 29-year-old male had suffered a broken leg in the incident, but was reevaluated to critical condition shortly after being evacuated from the scene. Paramedics were reported to have performed CPR on him before he arrived at the hospital. No name of the person or official cause of death has been released.
Our most sincere condolences go out to the skiers friends, family, and all involved.
Friday Morning Update- Here’s what the Sierra Avalanche Center has to share about the event:
Yesterday a tragic avalanche incident occurred near Stanford Rocks resulting in the death of the skier who triggered it. Initial reports indicate that this skier triggered slide occurred on a steep NE facing, wind loaded slope. The slide began due to a failure within the storm snow, but it then stepped down to a lower weak layer resulting in a deeper more severe avalanche.
Initial reports indicated that the bed surface seemed to be a combination of a smooth rain/MF crust and some other layer. The avalanche was probably a size 2-3 on the destructive size scale. It fractured wide and ran for several hundred vertical feet through the trees. The buried skier was found at least 300-400 vertical feet from the crown. There was still considerable hangfire in the area and considerable avalanche hazard.
We will be investigating the avalanche site today to learn more details about the actual slide. We will post those details here this afternoon.
Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of this skier.
You can get more detailed information and see pictures of the slide path here.
Couldn’t be sadder to hear this news. Vibes to all involved, and to my backcountry family, please play safe.
sad news. condolences to the family.
Thoughts and prayers go out to him and family. Ski / ride for fellow member of the brotherhood. May Mountain Mother hold us safe today and thru season’s end.
Very sad…..Why do people continue to go in the backcountry right now??? Are they not watching news or reading ski blogs?
Save your consternation, judgment, and figger-wagging. As if you’ve never made a bad decision. Everyone makes mistakes.
Thoughts and prayers to the skier’s family and friends.
no Disrespect to ben. I’m just saying that this appears to be a stellar year for avis. Maybe I’m just old but going out in the back country with every one getting caught, I would think people would not make those “mistakes”
You have no idea what you are talking about. Probably better if you’d just kept your mouth shut.
Sounds good will do
may peace and prayers be with the family.
too many this season
condolences to family & friends.
The earth will miss you. To the rest of us; try and enjoy each day we’re here and each other.
always good to check these free avalanche reports by the experts before going out. Very sad to hear. I am no expert forcaster but even I knew yesterday was a bad day to go out. Such a shame.
Thats sad, just a guy stoked to get out there and ski in this big storm we had. But he passed away while doing that he loved. RIP
name released on sierra sun
name just released at sirra sun
RIP Ben
really rough winter
Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on why the avi danger was downgraded to considerable yesterday? The wind loading had to be huge.
RIP Ben, I hope we all grow and become better through your tragic event.
don’t talk out of your ass. it obvious you have no knowledge of this. respect.
you did not understand my post. Ass
i’d love to know too. i was pretty scared of the snowpack from the start of this storm. i guess most similar aspects were safe but… dont know.
If you want to know go out and dig a profile. You will find a crappy layer about 3-5′ below the surface. This layer will remain crappy unless certain changes happen. If you are still uncertain, stay out of the backcountry until you hear that the potential for avalanches is unlikely. Oh, educating yourself through a Avalanche safety class will better help with your uncertainty.
Gonna miss you a lot, Benny. You always made me smile.
I am going to miss you Benny…you were an amazing soul. PLEASE stay safe out there!
I’ve skied that line with you in the past Benny and oh man, that was a great day. I wish you could have made it home buddy!!! We’ll miss you!!
RIP buddy. We will all miss you!