Palisades Tahoe Avalanche Photos, Videos as Rescuers Search For Skiers

Photos and videos show rescue teams attempting to find skiers after an avalanche swept through Palisades Tahoe, a California ski resort, and killed one person while injuring another.

The avalanche happened around 9:30 a.m. PT on Wednesday above the GS bowl area of KT-22, prompting the ski resort to close and start a search for anyone trapped in the snow.

"Our Patrol and mountain operations teams are performing a search at this time. Both sides of our mountain will be closed for the day," the resort said on X, formerly Twitter, at around 2 p.m. ET.

Placer County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook shortly before 5 p.m. ET: "The avalanche caused one fatality and one injury. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family members at this difficult time."

The sheriff's office said that no other missing people have been reported and that the mountain will remain closed for the rest of the day.

Newsweek reached out to the Placer County Sheriff's Office via email for comment.

Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley is near Lake Tahoe on its western side and about a 52-minute drive from Reno, Nevada. Besides being a winter travel destination, the resort hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

KCRA reporter Brittany Hope shared a video of four Placer Sheriff vehicles speeding down the highway as they responded to the avalanche.

Greg Thomas, Editor for the Lifestyle & Outdoors section of the San Fransico Chronicle posted photos on X of emergency crews on snowmobiles looking for people who may have been trapped during the avalanche.

"All hands on deck at Palisades Tahoe this morning to search a large avalanche slide area below KT-22 chairlift where several skiers are thought to be buried," Thomas wrote.

KT-22 opened for the first time this season on Wednesday morning. "KT is widely considered one of the most coveted expert chairs in Tahoe," KOVR reporter Dina Kupfer wrote on X.

FOX Weather meteorologist Steve Bender posted a video of emergency vehicles parked at the resort and wrote: "All the snow that has come in so far this season has been sitting in slabs and now ridge gusts are at 155mph at nearby Alpine Meadows. Terrifying situation and brutal conditions for S&R [search and rescue] right now."

The Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X at around 3 p.m. ET, "The state is monitoring and standing by to assist with the avalanche reported at Palisades in Tahoe."

Newsom's office said that the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection "is moving resources and personnel to help with rescue efforts and will continue close coordination with Olympic Valley and Placer County."

Ridgetops around Lake Tahoe experienced wind gusts of up to 100 mph late Tuesday. A winter storm is also expected to bring up to two feet of snow to the highest elevations by early Thursday.

Update 1/10/24 5:23 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.