In a tragic incident, an avalanche swept through a section of expert trails at Palisades Tahoe, a renowned California ski resort near Lake Tahoe, on Wednesday. The avalanche occurred as a powerful storm with snow and gusty winds moved into the region. Sadly, one person lost their life in the incident, while another sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Palisades Tahoe promptly closed the resort just 30 minutes after it opened in response to the avalanche. Search crews immediately deployed to the area, conducting thorough searches to ensure that no one was trapped or injured. Sgt. David Smith, a spokesperson for the Placer County sheriff, later confirmed that no one else was reported missing.

The avalanche took place around 9:30 a.m. on the steep slopes under the KT-22 lift, which serves "black diamond" runs designed for skilled skiers and snowboarders. In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Palisades Tahoe announced the closure of both sides of the mountain for the rest of the day.

According to the sheriff's office, the debris field left by the avalanche spanned approximately 150 feet wide, 450 feet long, and reached a depth of 10 feet. This tragic incident occurred just as a major storm was predicted to bring substantial snowfall, with estimates of up to 2 feet of snow at the highest elevations by early Thursday.

Palisades Tahoe, located on the western side of Lake Tahoe and known for hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics, is situated around 40 miles from Reno, Nevada. The National Weather Service in Reno warned of intense snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour around the lake.

With the storm raging, Tuesday witnessed a powerful gust of 110 mph at the summit of Alpine Meadows, Palisades Tahoe's neighboring resort, as recorded by the weather service.

Dan Lavely, a season pass holder from Reno, revealed that he had mainly skied at Alpine Meadows on Monday due to insufficient snow and the closure of the KT-22 lift. He expressed his shock at the tragedy, noting that the steep run along the side of the lift was where the grand slalom event took place during the 1960 Olympics.

Palisades Tahoe has unfortunately witnessed past avalanche incidents. In 2020, an avalanche at nearby Alpine Meadows claimed one skier's life and left another seriously injured, occurring just a day after a major storm. Additionally, in March 1982, another avalanche at Alpine Meadows tragically took the lives of seven people, including several employees of the ski resort.

As authorities continue to investigate the recent avalanche, the community mourns the loss of life and offers support to those involved. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of all visitors and taking necessary precautions amid the challenging weather conditions.