Avalanche Strikes Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, Leaving One Dead and Several Injured

PALISADES TAHOE, California – In a tragic incident, an avalanche occurred at Palisades Tahoe ski resort on Wednesday morning, claiming the life of a 66-year-old Bay Area man and leaving three others injured. The avalanche, which took place around 9:30 a.m., happened on the Palisades side of the resort, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation by patrol and mountain operations teams.

Initially, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office reported one fatality and one injury. However, as of late Wednesday afternoon, the confirmed number of casualties stood at one deceased and three injured individuals. Thankfully, the injuries sustained by the surviving victims were deemed non-life-threatening.

The victim who lost his life in the tragic incident was identified as Kenneth Kidd, a resident of both Point Reyes and the Truckee area. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

Following the avalanche, Palisades Tahoe ski resort made the difficult decision to close just 30 minutes after opening for the day. The closure was essential to ensure the safety of all visitors and staff in the wake of the incident.

In response to the avalanche, Placer County Sheriff’s Office deputies promptly arrived at the scene. Sergeant David Smith stated that there were no confirmed reports of people trapped, but search teams thoroughly assessed the area to ensure no potential victims were overlooked.

The ski resort announced that the avalanche occurred above the GS gully area of KT-22. The incident was attributed to a strong winter storm sweeping through the region, resulting in heavy snowfall, according to the National Weather Service.

Due to the closure, lift operations at Palisades and Alpine were suspended for the entire day on Wednesday. Visitors were advised to follow the resort’s official social media channels for updates on when the lifts would resume operation.

Palisades Tahoe, formerly known as Squaw Valley and the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, is a renowned ski resort located on the western side of Lake Tahoe. Situated approximately 40 miles from Reno, Nevada, the resort attracts visitors from near and far.

As this is a developing story, further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time.

Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.