Avalanche fears prompt call for Mount Charleston evacuation

Avalanche anxiety prompted a call for a voluntary evacuation of the Echo Canyon area of Mount Charleston on Thursday, where an estimated 80 to 90 inches of snow had accumulated at elevations of 8,000 feet.

Authorities were worried the snow would slide as temperatures warmed during the day. Efforts by police and rescue volunteers to contact residents were complicated by banks of snow that isolated homes and buried vehicles.

Rescue crews equipped with tracking beacons trekked to 45 homes to make sure "everybody had the opportunity" to leave their ski lodge-style homes on neighborhood streets named after the likes of Jack Frost and Kris Kringle, Las Vegas police Sgt. Eric Fricker said.

One resident was found trying to dig his way out of his garage. Rescue volunteers outfitted several residents with snowshoes so they could hike to Kyle Canyon Road. One resident declined assistance and wanted to stay.

Most residents, however, had already left because their homes had lost power. Because police had blocked the intersection of Kyle Canyon Road, or state Route 157, and Echo Road, officers and rescue volunteers assisted families who returned Thursday to retrieve their pets and Christmas gifts.

Danika Devitt, 13, was happy to be reunited with her Labrador retriever named Angel, but was disappointed her family could not celebrate Christmas in their mountain retreat, which had been decorated for the holiday.

"We have our tree and everything up there," Devitt said.

Echo Canyon has a history of avalanches, Fricker said. And while there were several minor snow slides Thursday, no homes were threatened.

The region is expected to get more snow on Sunday but not enough to cause alarm, said Andrew Gorelow, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Las Vegas. "It's a pretty weak system that's coming," Gorelow said.

Federal, state and county officials were on the mountain constantly assessing the situation, he said.

The Resort at Mount Charleston at the foot of Kyle Canyon is not affected by the advisory, and travel and other restrictions have been lifted for the rest of Kyle and Lee canyons.

Power is still out for most mountain homes, and is not expected to be restored until Saturday or later. The resort hotel does have power but Mount Charleston Lodge, at the top of the mountain, remains closed.

Workers at the Lodge were shoveling snow from the rooftops and transferring food to a refrigerated truck.

The Red Cross has established a shelter for Mount Charleston residents at Bilbray Elementary School, 9370 Brent Lane. Eva Wight, 89, who stayed there Wednesday night, was joined Thursday by Echo Canyon resident Doug Martz, 68.

Wight, who has lived in the Rainbow subdivision on Mount Charleston for 30 years, said this was the first time she's ever had to leave the mountain because of weather.

She said she has been without electricity since Monday and ran out of wood for her fireplace.

Wright, who claims she served the first cocktail at the Sands hotel and casino when it opened in 1952, said she "was happy to be warm."

Light snow showers continued to fall on the mountain Thursday, but should dissipate as the storm continues to move out of the valley, forecasters said.

Scattered road closures occurred Thursday in the Las Vegas area following the heavy rains.

Most were for the cleanup of debris and not because of new flooding. Scenic routes at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area are expected to reopen today.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.