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Tahoe ski resort avalanche victim ID’d as California man (updated)

Staff and wire reports
Search crews headed out Sunday morning at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe to look for the missing skier.
Courtesy WCSO |

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Visit http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org to follow updated information about avalanche danger in the Tahoe region.

UPDATE 12:45 p.m. Tuesday:

On Tuesday, the Washoe County Medical Examiner and Coroner’s Office identified the man whose body was found after an avalanche Saturday at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe as 64-year-old Thomas Barker from Aptos, Calif.

The cause of death is pending investigation, which often takes several weeks before results are known.



The original story string and updates are below.


UPDATE: 4 p.m. Sunday:



Rescue crews found the body of a 64-year-old man during their search early Sunday afternoon at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe.

“The body of a man believed to be the missing skier was located by searchers working within the search area shortly before 1:00pm Sunday,” according to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

According to media reports, the body was found buried in about 8 to 10 feet of snow.

The skier reportedly did not have any safety gear on him and was skiing in an area that was closed to the public.

According to the Sierra Avalanche Center, the avalanche was 350 feet wide and reached 10 feet deep in some places.

The name of the man has yet to be released, pending next-of-kin notification. The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office has taken over the investigation to determine cause of death.

The original story string is below.

RENO, Nev. — Emergency crews have resumed the search for a male skier who was reportedly caught in an avalanche Saturday at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe.

Mt. Rose spokesman Mike Pierce says one skier saw the man get caught in an avalanche Saturday morning on Jackpot Chute, a closed area of the resort.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office says search crews were recalled Saturday afternoon due to a continued avalanche threat. The search resumed at about 9:15 a.m. Sunday.

The name of the skier — who’s reportedly about 60 years old — has not been released.

According to WCSO, searchers and support staff from Placer and Nevada counties in California are joining those from Washoe and Mt. Rose in the search.

The Tahoe region was pelted Friday and Saturday with a wet winter storm, drawing some snow at higher elevations and plenty at lake level and above.


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