Squaw Valley, Calif. – January 24, 2017 – UPDATE 11:00 AM – Joe Zuiches, a 42 year-old resident of Olympic Valley and a member of the Squaw Valley professional ski patrol since 2012, was killed in a fatal incident at 8:35 AM this morning during avalanche control activities. The incident, which occurred at the top of Gold Coast Ridge at Squaw Valley, does not appear to be avalanche related. North Tahoe Fire Department and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office are on scene, and an investigation is underway. Updates will be posted here as they become available.
The team at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is deeply saddened by this tragic event, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends affected.
A press conference has been scheduled for 2:00pm today at the Alpenglow Conference Room in The Village at Squaw Valley.
This Tragic news saddens us here at Sierra REC Magazine. We did not know Joe, however, you can assume from his passion of skiing and helping people it lead him to become a Ski Patrol Professional. And like the rest of us, was probably just a little geeked about the record snow to turn in the remainder of this month.
Our Prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends as well as the team at Squaw Valley.