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Training exercise on Mount Rose turns into rescue off Highway 431

Kyle Magin
Sierra Sun
Sierra Sun/Jen SchmidtMount Rose ski patroller John Talbot explains to responders how a probe line works to grid an avalanche area and find victims buried underneath the snow Thursday in the Meadows
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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. “-Rescuers from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District lucked out Tuesday when a call for help came in from the Mount Rose Meadows while the district was training for avalanche rescues in the area.

A female snowboarder suffered serious injuries while riding West of Nevada State Highway 431. According to Bruce Hicks, a firefighter/paramedic with the fire district, the woman suffered a fall, causing the injuries.

A call came into the fire district’s personnel at about 1:20 p.m. and Battalion Chief Mike Schwartz said they mobilized immediately to respond to the call.



Fire district personnel declined to give the woman’s name.

Snowmobiles, nordic skiers and rescue personnel on snowshoes mobilized quickly from the incident command post set up at the Incline Lake trailhead and headed in the direction of the patient, located below the Third Creek drainage area. Approximately 29 rescue personnel were involved with the rescue including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Hasty Team, Sierra Fire Protection District and CareFlight to name a few. The patient was transported via CareFlight with serious injuries to Renown Medical Center.



Fire district officials couldn’t elaborate on the injuries the woman suffered. Calls to Renown were not returned as of press time.

“It was training that turned into good timing because the patient was located in a remote, heavily wooded area and it took some hiking to reach her. The fact that we were all up there really saved on time which of course was to the patients benefit,” said NLTFPD Firefighter/Paramedic Bruce Hicks, who led the avalanche training.


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