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UPDATE: Crews find body of missing skier at Heavenly Mountain Resort

Snow covers Heavenly Mountain Resort's World Cup run Monday morning. Sunday's storm left almost three inches of snow at lake level, while Heavenly reported receiving a foot of snow at higher elevations.
Adam Jensen / Tahoe Daily Tribune

Ski patrollers with the help of a search dog found the body of missing skier Brett Herrick at about 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Herrick, 62, from Seaside, California, was positively identified, according to Undersheriff Paul Howell.

“He was found in the  Aries Woods, between the Comet and Dipper runs,” Howell said.
“Herrick was located in the wooded area, about 100 feet from the groomed trail.  He was immersed in deep snow.”

Initial investigation indicates Herrick crashed into very deep powder and could not self-rescue and likely suffocated or died from exposure.  An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The next of kin has been notified.

In a statement, a Heavenly official extended condolences to Herrick’s family and friends.

“Heavenly Mountain, Heavenly Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends,” Mike Goar, Heavenly Mountain vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.

Searchers have been looking for Herrick since around 4:30 p.m.  Monday, when emergency dispatchers received word he was missing.

Herrick was last seen by his girlfriend on the Comet run at around 11:30 a.m.

The search and rescue team was activated and launched a search and rescue mission. Douglas searchers were assisted by a helicopter from Naval Air Station in Fallon.

The search continued today with assistance from units from Washoe, El Dorado, and Placer counties and from members of Heavenly Resort Ski Patrol, and the Tahoe Nordic Group.



This post has been updated to include a statement from Mike Goar.

UPDATE: Crews actively searching for skier missing since Monday at Lake Tahoe ski resort

Crews are searching for a skier who was last seen late Monday morning on the Nevada side of Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Brett Herrick, 62, was last seen by his girlfriend at 11:30 a.m. near Comet run, located off the Stagecoach Lodge area, according to Douglas County Undersheriff Paul Howell.

Law enforcement was first notified around 4:30 p.m. Monday and began searching. Crews, aided by Naval Air Station Fallon, were unable to locate Herrick, a resident of Seaside, California, on Monday.

The search is ongoing and additional resources from other law enforcement agencies and search teams — including Washoe, El Dorado, and Placer counties, Heavenly Resort Ski Patrol and the Tahoe Nordic Group — have been called in, according to Howell.

Due to the active search, terrain off of Dipper and Comet is currently closed to the public, according to a condition update tweeted by Heavenly.

The Tribune will update this story as more details become available.


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