SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
On Monday, March 19, 2012 at approximately 3:24 p.m., the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Hasty Team, Search and Rescue volunteers and RAVEN Huey helicopter flight crew responded to the area of Mt. Rose Ski Resort for a report of two separate lost parties, one party of three skiers and one party of two snowboarders.
The land search teams deployed into the wilderness on snowshoes and skis from Davis Creek Park, Tahoe Meadows, the Slide Mountain side of Mt. Rose Ski Resort, and various strategic locations along the highway.
Upon RAVEN’s arrival they began a search on the northwest side of the ski resort with negative results. RAVEN then received information from the ground units that the snowboarders were actually on the southeast side of the resort out of ski resort boundaries. Upon arrival in that area the helicopter’s crew began a contour search of the southeast slope and located the three skiers accompanied by two Mt. Rose Ski Patrol members in the Ophir Creek meadow area. Based on the victims’ location and the physical condition of one of the skiers, search and rescue teams elected to transport all five people by helicopter back to the Slide side of the ski resort parking lot where they were met by WCSAR personnel. At that time additional information was received that the two lost snowboarders were located on the southwest side of the mountain by two North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District personnel. RAVEN proceeded to that location and at approximately 6:15 p.m. recovered the two snowboarders and returned them to the main parking lot of the Mt. Rose Ski Resort without incident.
A six minute video is available which shows various segments of the helicopter recovery from the pilot’s perspective. HD and SD video is available through the WCSO Community Relations Section, please call Tami Cummings at 785-6205.
