Yesterday afternoon, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR), Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD), and REMSA responded to a report of a male backcountry skier who was partially buried in an avalanche near Mount Rose Summit.
With deteriorating weather conditions and time being critical, WCSO SAR quickly mobilized and staged just west of Mount Rose Ski Resort and, through the use of multiple technologies, was able to pinpoint the skier’s exact location. After consulting and coordinating with the Sierra Avalanche Center, SAR ski and snowshoe teams deployed into the backcountry to locate the skier.
The first SAR team reached the area where the skier was located and made verbal contact with him. Teams quickly developed a plan to safely reach the skier on foot. Upon contact, SAR members assessed his condition and determined that he was cold, tired, and wet after spending several hours in the avalanche runout area, but he was uninjured and able to walk.
WCSO SAR provided the skier with snowshoes and escorted him out of the backcountry, where he was transferred to REMSA for further evaluation.
While speaking with the skier, SAR members learned that he had been completely buried in the avalanche and spent over an hour partially digging himself out before he was able to access his cell phone and call 911.
We are grateful for the positive outcome of this call and for the skier’s safe return home. While backcountry skiing can be enjoyable, it carries significant risks. WCSO SAR reminds the public to take all necessary precautions when planning a backcountry adventure. The Sierra Avalanche Center is an excellent resource for the most up-to-date information on snowpack and avalanche conditions in our region.
We thank our outstanding SAR volunteer responders who are always ready to assist those in need, as well as our partners from the Sierra Avalanche Center, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, and REMSA Health for their outstanding coordination and assistance during this response.
