• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise with Us

Tahoe Ski World

skiing in Lake Tahoe

  • Explore Tahoe
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Lodging
    • Restaurants
    • Travel/Golf/Auto reviews
  • Tahoe Ski Resorts
  • News
    • Featured
    • Equipment
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Season’s first reported death at a Tahoe ski resort

March 3, 2023 By admin

Extreme snow conditions can often lead to tragedy. And that’s what happened Wednesday at Heavenly ski resort in Lake Tahoe.

Heavenly ski resort in Lake Tahoe is known for its many tree-area runs.

Wesley Whalen of Queens City, New York, died after reportedly falling into a tree well while snowboarding near the Round-a-Bout area, located on the California side of Heavenly.

A tree well is the ground space below a tree’s branches where the snow is lighter and less compact. The weight of a skier can cause the snow to collapse, creating a well surrounded by denser and higher snow.

Climbing out of the narrow wells can be extremely difficult, and skiers and snowboarders are generally advised to avoid skiing lines under tight trees immediately after storms.

The circumstances behind Whalen’s death are unclear, but it appears there are a number of trees in the area where the resort said this “serious incident” took place.

Tahoe Ski World believes this is the first reported death of a skier or snowboarder this season at a Tahoe ski resort.

According to its website, Heavenly had received 86 inches – more than 7 feet of snow – in the past week, much of it arriving from blizzard-like conditions Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday (Feb. 28), Heavenly was one of only two ski resorts open in the Tahoe region, when whiteout conditions were prevalent. Wednesday began with lingering snow showers, before turning into a sunny, bluebird day.

Heavenly communications manager Cole Zimmerman confirmed that Heavenly’s ski patrol responded Wednesday to an expert trail near Round-a-Bout on the California side of the resort, where they discovered Whalen. After further emergency care and evaluation, the 46-year-old Wesley was pronounced deceased at the California Lodge base area and transferred to the El Dorado County coroner.

“Heavenly Mountain Resort, Heavenly Ski Patrol, and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends,” Tom Fortune, vice president of Heavenly and Vail Resorts’ Tahoe Region, said in a statement.

Heading into Wednesday ( March 1), Heavenly had received 86 inches – more than 7 feet of snow — during the past week.

Ski California President Mike Reitzell extended his condolences to the man and his loved ones. Reitzell is encouraging skiers and riders planning to be at a Tahoe ski resort this weekend to take extra safety precautions given the amount of snow already on the ground and with more forecasted in the coming days.

Whalen was reportedly a strong voice and translator for those in the deaf community, helping those in need with things like job applications. The U.S. Deaf Ski and Snowboard Association posted about his passing on Facebook on Thursday along with many of his friends and those individuals he represented in the deaf community.

The El Dorado County coroner’s office said the cause of death is unknown at this time, but an autopsy was completed Thursday. Wesley was reportedly wearing a Go Pro, but it did not indicate exactly what happened, so the autopsy will determine the cause of death.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Heavenly ski resort, Skiing, skiing Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Ski Resorts Tagged With: Heavenly ski resort, Season' first reported death Tahoe ski resort, skiing, skiing Lake Tahoe, snowboarder dies at Heavenly ski resort, snowboarder dies in Tahoe, snowboarder Wesley Whalen, Tahoe ski resorts

Primary Sidebar

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Mammoth ski resort opens Nov. 10

    Mammoth ski resort opens Nov. 10

    September 22, 2023
  • What’s new at Palisades Tahoe for upcoming season

    What’s new at Palisades Tahoe for upcoming season

    September 18, 2023
  • Power-laden 2024 Mercedes GLE

    Power-laden 2024 Mercedes GLE

    September 15, 2023
  • BMW 330e an appealing plug-in hybrid

    BMW 330e an appealing plug-in hybrid

    September 8, 2023
  • Ford Raptor R – another F-150 to consider

    Ford Raptor R – another F-150 to consider

    September 2, 2023

Footer

Guest Posts

  • Exploring Lake Tahoe’s Winter Activities

    June 27, 2023
  • Redesigned Honda Accord hybrid

    April 21, 2023
  • Palisades Tahoe ski resort staying open thru July 4

    March 23, 2023
  • Elantra N welcome addition for Hyundai

    August 17, 2022
  • Cost to ski in South Korea?

    October 23, 2020

Skiing

  • Mammoth ski resort opens Nov. 10

    September 22, 2023
  • What’s new at Palisades Tahoe for upcoming season

    September 18, 2023
  • Next season opening dates Tahoe ski resorts

    August 30, 2023
  • Tahoe’s Vail Resorts announce opening dates

    August 16, 2023
  • Jankowski named Sugar Bowl’s new Executive Director of Sport

    August 15, 2023

Equipment

  • Will it ever stop snowing at Tahoe ski resorts?

    January 11, 2023
  • Tahoe ski resorts making improvements

    September 8, 2022
  • Tips for buying new skis

    February 11, 2020
  • Tips for buying new skis

    December 28, 2018
  • Should skiers hang on to aging equipment?

    January 7, 2017

Lodging

  • Palisades Tahoe Village condos extremely accommodating

    May 12, 2023
  • Granlibakken: Tahoe snow getaway for families

    February 15, 2023
  • Terrific pet boarding at Truckee-Tahoe Pet Lodge 

    February 9, 2023
  • Village at Palisades Tahoe offers excellent lodging

    October 25, 2021
  • Mother’s Day at Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe

    April 28, 2019

Restaurants

  • What’s new at Palisades Tahoe for upcoming season

    September 18, 2023
  • Squaw Valley offers to-go Thanksgiving dinner

    November 18, 2020
  • Good Wolf Brewing’s grand opening Feb. 1

    January 30, 2020
  • Thumbs up for Ten Crows BBQ in Tahoe

    February 2, 2019
  • Lake Tahoe’s West Shore Cafe honored by Wine Spectator

    July 20, 2017

Become a Subscriber

Enter your email to be a subscriber:

Copyright © 2023 Tahoe Ski World Powered by Jeff Weidel