One dead, one seriously injured in Alpine Meadows avalanche

January 18 update: In a statement, Alpine Meadows said the following: At approximately 10:16 a.m, Friday, an avalanche was reported in the area between Scott Chute and Promised Land near Scott Chair at Alpine Meadows, within an open area of the resort. A male skier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 11am. A second male skier sustained severe lower-body injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol responded immediately to the scene and completed a thorough search of the area with the help of additional resort personnel and members of the public using avalanche transceivers, probes, RECCO Rescue System technology, and avalanche rescue dog teams. Witnesses to the incident saw no other individuals involved, no additional individuals have been reported missing and the search was declared complete at 11:45 a.m.

It has since been announced the deceased is Cole Comstock, 34, of Blairsden, California. In a statement from his wife Caitlin Comstock, the two were with a group at Alpine Meadows and her husband and a friend went down one side from the chair life, she and other went down the other.

The condition of the second person is not known at this time.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The search has been called off at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe for any further possible victims in Friday morning's avalanche at the ski area located west of North Lake Tahoe.

Rescue personnel responded to the resort at approximately 10:30 a.m. on the report of an avalanche above the Subway Chairlift which is located near the base. The runs off Subway are all listed as beginner runs.

There has been one confirmed fatality and a second victim with serious injuries according to the Placer County Sheriff's Office.

Search and Rescue volunteers and avalanche dogs scoured the area as initially there were reports more victims were unaccounted for and could possibly be in the snow.

The Sheriff's spokesperson said this is being treated as an isolated incident and Alpine Meadows remains open though the area near the Subway ski run is closed.

The Sierra Avalance Center lists the whole area of the Sierra from Sierraville to Kirkwood as a having a "considerable" avalanche danger at this time. Alpine Meadows lists they received 18" of snow at the base and 25" of snow at the 8,000-foot level overnight.

On March 31, 1982, seven people died at Alpine Meadows after a destructive avalanche came down the mountain.