Avalanche Kills Skier

A snow advisory remains in effect in the Eastern Sierra after a cross-country skier was killed in an avalanche yesterday.

Authorities say the woman was skiing with a party of eleven people when the avalanche hit yesterday morning in steep, rugged terrain between the Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley ski resorts north of Lake Tahoe. The victim´s name and hometown have not been released.

A spokesman wit the Placer County Sheriff´s Department says two other members of the party were trapped by the avalanche, but they escaped serious injury after emerging from the snow relatively quickly. One of the trapped skiers was near the surface and able to dig himself out, while the other was dug out by others. Avalanche beacons helped rescuers find the trapped skiers.

Ski resorts in the area reported as much as 20 inches of snow over the weekend. Another inch or two is expected today.