Skier dies on expert run at Mammoth - as horrified witnesses watch from chair lift

"The skier, who has not been identified, was attempting a run called Dropout 2 - among the steepest marked trails in California - which descends from the summit ridge of the 11,000-foot mountain. The run falls about 1,200 vertical feet below a slow, three-person lift that ferries expert skiers to some of Mammoth's most adventurous terrain."

"The man fell hard enough to pop out of his skis in the steep, icy moguls near the top of the run before sliding headfirst for hundreds of yards, apparently unable to stop himself, according to witnesses who posted on Reddit. "He then slid while unconscious about another 150 yards down the trail leaving blood ... the entire way while the person he was skiing with was crying out and trying to catch up to jump on him to stop the slide," one Reddit user wrote."

"Ski patrollers got to the victim at 1:04 p.m., about four minutes after the accident, according to the email. He was unconscious and unresponsive. "Life-saving care was administered immediately, and the guest was quickly transported to the care of paramedics," who took the victim to Mammoth Hospital, mountain officials wrote. "Despite these efforts, we are informed the guest passed away." "Notification of next of kin is still pending," according to the email."

An unidentified skier attempted Dropout 2, a steep marked trail descending from the 11,000-foot summit and dropping about 1,200 vertical feet below a slow, three-person lift. The skier popped out of his skis in steep, icy moguls near the top and slid headfirst for hundreds of yards, apparently unable to stop. Witnesses on the lift and Reddit users described him sliding unconscious about another 150 yards, leaving blood, while a companion tried to intervene. Ski patrollers reached the victim roughly four minutes after the accident, administered life-saving care, and transferred him to paramedics and Mammoth Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. No identity has been released and notification of next of kin is pending. The death was the resort's fourth this season; the first fatality occurred on Christmas Day after heavy snowfall and involved a 71-year-old known as Raymond Albert.

Read at Los Angeles Times