Alpine Meadows Avalanche

       The snow that covered much of the basin on Friday accumulated in the higher ski areas locally.  While sveral inches fell at lake level, more than 2' fell on the highest peaks and trails at most of the operating resorts, including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Boreal Ridge, and Diamond Peak and North Star.  The resorts have an avalanche prevention system manned by highly skilled individuals who make assessments and mitigate the dangers using various methods and techniques that include mortar-fired explosives that  will cause most accumulations to descend/fall before skiers and borders enter danger zones.  For whatever reason, mitigation techniques did not suffice this past week.
      An avalanche claimed the life of a local man who had entered the danger zone prior to the movement of a heavy accumulation near the mid-mountain level at Alpine Meadows.  After an energetic search effort, the victim and a companion were found, one alive the other had died at the scene.
       While many injuries occur yearly at the resorts, fatalities are extremely rare events.  Often times, the deaths occur as the result of a collision with trees off trail.  Apparently, that was the case in this instance.
       We mourn the loss of a winter sportsman, and will continue with every effort to reduce injuries and accidents throughout the basin.