Two skiers from Sacramento went looking for fresh powder last Wednesday at Palisades Tahoe, but instead ended up saving another skier’s life.
Carson Schmidt told our Sacramento affiliate KOVR that he does not know why he stopped, but is glad he did.
In a video taken by Schmidt, the buried skier can be heard gasping for air as the Sacramento skiers work to dig his head out, clearing a path for him to breathe. At least four feet of snow were weighing him down.
The man, moments from suffocation, was saved by their quick actions.
Officials at Palisades Tahoe said their ski patrol team was not aware of the incident at the time because they were never notified. “When incidents occur on the mountain, it is critical that guests immediately alert Ski Patrol or notify the nearest lift operator so our teams can respond quickly and provide assistance,” the resort said. “Because we did not receive any report of this situation, we were unable to respond or render aid to the individual shown in the video.”
The resort issued a statement acknowledging the skiers’ actions and highlighting safety precautions on deep snow days:
“On Wednesday, February 18th, the snow was exceptionally deep. We want to thank Carson Schmidt for his quick thinking and heroism in looking out for others while skiing at our resort.
Deep storm days are incredible, but they also come with some added risk. Carson said it best in his post: always ride with a buddy. When conditions are this deep, it does not take an avalanche or a tree well for someone to become buried. Snow immersion can happen even in open terrain.
Our ski patrol team is constantly monitoring and patrolling the mountain, working to mitigate all possible danger. But on deep days especially, it is crucial that everyone takes responsibility for looking out for one another.
Please ride with a buddy, stay within sight of your group, and make smart decisions. It could save someone’s life.”
