The avalanche at Mt Rose - stay aware, stay alive.

Well, today was another one of those incredibly perfect days on the slopes, but all skiers should still remember to be avalanche aware.

Below is a message from the good folks at Mt. Rose.

To All Season Passholders:

This is Mike Ferrari with the Mt. Rose Ski Patrol with a note regarding the avalanche that occurred below the Slide side boundary that made national news on Wednesday, Feb 18^th. The most important item to understand about this event is that it did not occur on the ski area. The avalanche was reported to the mountain by a guest leaving the Slide Lodge base area while driving on the access road around 11:00am. The reporting party indicated that there was a large avalanche below the Slide Lodge with a skin (climbing) track into it but with no exit track visible. As with any potentially serious incident outside of our boundary, the 911 emergency system was activated immediately. The Washoe County Sheriff’s office is in charge of all back-country rescues in this county.

The important things to understand and learn from this event are numerous. First of all, there is avalanche terrain in many areas outside of the ski area boundary in places where people who leave the ski area like to ski. Davis Creek is a perfect example. People who choose to leave the boundary should consider taking an avalanche course, getting the proper equipment and travelling with a partner. The second important message is that the Mt.Rose patrol is not responsible for your well-being or rescue when you leave at the access points or go under the rope. A rescue response, if available or possible, may be a long time coming. The bottom line is individuals leaving the boundary are responsible for themselves. Information regarding the current avalanche hazard outside of developed ski areas can be obtained daily from the SierraAvalancheCenter at the following link http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/advisory.php.

Sincerely,

Mike Ferrari

Mt. Rose Patrol Director