A woman was stranded in a snow resort gondola in South Lake Tahoe, California, for 15 hours as temperatures dropped below freezing.
Monica Laso was at Heavenly Mountain Resort when she was reported missing by her friends to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office after a day of snowboarding.
Trapped Overnight for 15 Hours in Gondola
In an interview with NBC affiliate KCRA of Sacramento, Laso stated that she was at Heavenly Mountain Resort on Thursday with friends when she became tired and asked staff for directions to a gondola to take her to the base.
The staff led her to a gondola with a few minutes left until 5 pm. However, as soon as she boarded and started her trip down, it stopped, leaving her stranded for fifteen hours.
Laso shared she did not have her phone with her at the time of the incident, so she yelled for help, but there was no response.
"I screamed desperately until I lost my voice," Laso said. She claimed she was back on solid ground only when the gondola began its journey on Friday morning.
"I felt very frustrated," she told KCRA.
According to the National Weather Service, nighttime temperatures in the area were in the mid-20s. Laso said that she stayed warm by rubbing her hands and feet together.
Kim George, the fire marshal for the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Department, said in an email that Laso was rescued by deputies in the morning, and they contacted her agency.
George reported that first responders from the South Lake Tahoe department arrived at the gondola's base at around 8:28 am. She added that Laso was assessed and refused transport.
Vice president and chief operating officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort Tom Fortune stated that the resort is investigating the incident. Fortune ensures their guests' safety and well-being are their priorities at the resort.
According to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and the resort's websites, the 2.4-mile gondola is normally set to run from 9:00 am until 4 pm.
Fortune said that the resort is eager to learn more about the incident. He added they are investigating the incident with the utmost seriousness.
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TOPSHOT - The gondola lift is seen during the 2019 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships at the National Arena in Are, Sweden, on February 6, 2019.
Skier Dead in Avalanche at Lake Tahoe Ski Resort
The officials reported on Friday morning that an avalanche at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe killed one skier and seriously injured another.
According to ski resort officials, the avalanche occurred between Promised Land and Scott Chute near Scott Chair. The area consists of some of the steepest terrains at the resort, where a series of expert runs snake through trees, past cliffs, and down slender chutes.
Cole Comstock, a 34-year-old skier from Blairsden, California, was declared dead at the scene. Another male skier was taken to a hospital after suffering severe injuries to his lower body.
Shawn Bowles, a snowboarder, said, "It's really sad." "That could be anybody. Been hearing lots of people talk about it."
Related Article: California Avalanche Kills 1, Injures Another at Tahoe Ski Resort
