Snow causes avalanche danger

RENO -- Sierra Nevada ski resorts are stepping up avalanche control efforts after a California man died in a slide and a string of storms dropped as much as 12 feet of snow over the last two weeks.

The U.S. Forest Service's Sierra Avalanche Center on Friday said the avalanche danger is moderate in backcountry areas above tree-line in the central Sierra around Lake Tahoe.

Its advisory came a day after expert skier Randall Davis, 21, of Tahoe City, Calif., was found dead under several feet of snow at the Squaw Valley USA resort just north of Tahoe.

Davis vanished when he was skiing down expert terrain with a friend during a blizzard. His body was found on a steep, thickly forested slope, the Placer County Sheriff's Office reported.

The heavy snow is prompting resorts to kick avalanche control into full gear for the busy holiday ski season, said Rachael Woods, spokeswoman for the nearby Alpine Meadows resort.

The efforts routinely involve the use of explosives in reducing snow on steep slopes, the closure of certain areas, and talks with guests about snow safety, Woods said.

A pair of skiers at the Mount Rose ski resort south of Reno were found in good condition Thursday night after they went missing in the afternoon.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office said it had been in contact with the duo by cell phone after they went out of bounds.

Also during the storm, a train struck a mother and son walking along the tracks Thursday afternoon in the Sierra, killing one and severely injuring the other.