Body of Missing NorCal Snowboarder Recovered at Northstar in Tahoe

When a 40-year-old Vallejo resident never returned from his solo snowboard trip to Northstar in Tahoe, his family alerted authorities that he was missing. They found his car covered in snow in the parking lot and, after a large search operation, they located his deceased body on the mountain on Wednesday.

Danieson Crowder was announced dead onsite when authorities found his body in deep snow in a tree well on an inbounds run at Northstar on the north side of Lake Tahoe. High levels of snow have caused dangerous conditions for some skiers and snowboarders this winter.

We’re sad to report that Danieson Crowder, 40, of Vallejo was discovered deceased at @Northstar_CA. Crowder went snowboarding by himself on Monday. He was reported missing Wednesday. Northstar ski patrol found him in a tree well that same day. #SAR

— Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) March 16, 2019

The death of Crowder was alarmingly similar to that of Brett Herrick, the 62-year-old skier who was found buried in the deep snow of a tree well at Heavenly Resort in February. The deaths have proven that while a lot of snow can be a treat for riders, it can also cause situations that can be deadly. It’s always recommended to ski with a companion.

Sierra Nevada ski resorts have seen historic snowfall this winter, with Mammoth Mountain and Squaw Valley breaking records in February.