Man killed in Tahoe avalanche was 'extreme' skiing, officials say

A skier who died after he was trapped in an avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area was performing an "extreme" ski technique, officials said.

Benjamin Brackett, 29, and two others got stuck in tough terrain about 3 p.m. Thursday near Alpine Meadows in the Tahoe National Forest.

One skier set out to notify authorities, while the other stayed with Brackett, said Sgt. Ed Clark of the  Placer County Sheriff's Department.

Rescuers pulled Brackett out of the avalanche area on a sled after struggling to reach him. He was taken to Tahoe Forest Hospital, where he later died.

Sheriff's Lt. John Weaver told Reuters that Weaver and his group had "skinned" up the mountain using special attachments to their skies that might have triggered the avalanche.

An autopsy will be performed to determine Brackett’s cause of death, said Sgt. Paul Schmidt of the Nevada County coroner’s office.

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Photo: Rescuers in the area where an avalanche killed a skier. Credit: Fox40 Sacramento