Most sledders take extra care after Mount Charleston death

The news of 11-year-old Vanesa Lara's sledding death seems to have spread.

Sledders took extra care Saturday morning to stay within the posted snow play areas of the Meadows on Mount Charleston.

Although Vanesa was not in a designated sledding area along Lee Canyon Road when she crashed into a metal fence and died on New Year's Day, the site is popular among sledders looking to avoid crowds. Some of those sledders continued to ignore the posted warning signs when police were on scene to investigate Wednesday.

But of the 100 people gathered Saturday morning to take advantage of the slippery snow, nearly all stayed in front of the "No Trespassing" sign and downhill from the fence that Vanesa crashed into.

Mike Frey, who brought his wife and two sons sledding, said he and his family have visited the site for the past eight years. And while they once used to venture farther up the mountain, the new fence, signs, and recent crash have caused him to reconsider the hill.

"There are signs up for a reason," Frey said. "Most of the time when you're out here someone is getting hurt. Usually it's just bumps and bruises, but this can get really dangerous."

While people are encouraged to use the designated Foxtrail sledding area across the street, Frey said he feels the site along Lee Canyon Road is safer because fewer people are running into each other or causing obstacles for sledders.

Even in nondesignated areas, Frey said he and his family come to the mountain early so they can leave before the major crowds begin arriving around 10 a.m.

'NO TRESPASSING'

Nearby, a group of 22 teenagers prepared inner tubes and sleds to ride down the hill, just in front of the "No Tresspassing" signs.

Lance Eliason, a young men's leader at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that whenever his youth group goes sledding they follow strict rules for their safety.

"They know that they can't leave the boundary," Eliason said. "They can't go higher than the gate or past the signs. We're trying to prevent injuries and every year we never have any problems."

Eliason agreed, however, that the Foxtail area could sometimes be too crowded and that the hill was far more convenient to reach.

PARKING FEE

Sledders also cited a parking fee and longer distance when explaining why they didn't use the Foxtail sledding site.

The metal fence that Vanesa crashed into was installed in October. It was seen as a way to keep sledders safe by isolating off-limit areas. Clark County officials explained Thursday that a fence made of plastic netting and another made of wood were torn down by sledders, so they built one out of metal.

They also said they have no intention of removing the metal fence.

Child safety was also on people's minds up the road from the snow play area. Free helmets were handed out to young skiers and snowboarders by operators of the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort and Centennial Hills Hospital as part of a national safety education program.

Contact reporter Tara Verderosa at tverderosa@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.