Thursday afternoon, Christmas Day, a man was partially buried in an avalanche near Mount Rose Summit, prompting a coordinated rescue by Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR), Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, and REMSA, according to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in an online post.
With worsening weather and time being critical, SAR quickly staged just west of Mount Rose Ski Resort and used multiple technologies to pinpoint the skier’s exact location.
After coordinating with the Sierra Avalanche Center, SAR ski and snowshoe teams entered the backcountry to reach the man.
The first SAR team made verbal contact with the skier and developed a plan to safely reach him on foot. Upon reaching him, SAR members found the man cold, tired, and wet after spending several hours in the avalanche runout area, but he was uninjured and able to walk.
SAR provided snowshoes and escorted the skier out of the backcountry, where he was transferred to REMSA for further evaluation.
While speaking with him, SAR members learned that he had been completely buried in the avalanche and spent over an hour partially digging himself out before accessing his cell phone to call 911.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office noted, “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.”
The office also thanked its SAR volunteer responders and partners from the Sierra Avalanche Center, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, and REMSA Health for their coordination during the rescue.
(The Washoe County Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.)
