California/Nevada Heavenly Resort employee dies after 'incident'

[Plai]

Heavenly employee killed in 'incident' identified

The employee killed in a 'serious incident' at Heavenly Mountain resort on January 18, 2020, has been identified as 36-year-old Christopher John Nicholson of South Lake Tahoe.

www.kolotv.com

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KOLO)-- A Heavenly Mountain Resort employee died Saturday after what the resort called a "serious incident" on the expert trail in Mott Canyon, the resort reported Sunday.

The 36-year-old California man was taken to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center in Carson City. After emergency care and evaluation, he was pronounced dead, the resort reported.

The Heavenly Ski Patrol responded. The specifics of what happened were not immediately available. Heavenly called it a serious incident.

“Heavenly Mountain Resort, Heavenly Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our employee’s family and friends,” Tom Fortune, vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, said in a statement.

Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood are all owned by Vail Resorts. Heavenly is near South Lake Tahoe.

 

[Coach13]

Anytime someone dies accidentally or otherwise it sucks. When it’s a skier it sucks and serves as a stern reminder as to what can happen on the mountain regardless of ability. Prayers for him and his family.

 

[Tricia]

Sad.

 

[Tony]

Sorry to hear about this today. I've skied solo into both Mott and Killibrew many times, including many routes where not holding an edge could mean a painful slide if not worse. Some more info at https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/n...orted-deaths-last-weekend-in-lake-tahoe-area/

 

[Tricia]

This all happened on a big snow day after a few weeks of dry weather.
Not the any of these accidents were big risks, just saying that we all are in "that" zone when the snow comes after a drought.

 

[CalG]

Creek hole.....

 

[pais alto]

^ If that’s the case, it totally sucks.

I guess it sucks in any case, but creek holes freak me out.

 

[CalG]

Too close to home to say more,

totally sucks pretty much describes it.

 

[Alexzn]

Very sad news, condolences to the friends and family.

 

[Tricia]

Too close to home to say more,

totally sucks pretty much describes it.

I've been thinking about this since the news broke that it was a patroller.
For some reason it resonates deeper because its someone who is out there with the intent of keeping us safe and his life was cut short. It just feels like a deeper loss, for whatever the reason.
Much like the patroller that died at Squaw a 2 years ago.
I have such a high regard for patrollers and the incredible work they(you) do to mitigate risk and attend to our health and wellbeing.

 

[puptwin]

Creek hole.....

What is a creek hole?

 

[Pequenita]

What is a creek hole?

An opening into a small waterbody, due to melted out snow, or never quite filled in, or failed snow bridge.

 

[James]

I guess on a glacier it's called a "moulin". Scary.

 

[Alexzn]

Do we actually know what happened there?