"The families carrying those losses bear a weight that is unbearable. What we know is that, however that grief is held tonight, it will not be held alone."
As the news of the deadly Palisades Tahoe resort avalanche is devastating the ski community, we spoke with an expert on ways to maximize your safety in the snow.
An upside down snowboarder buried alive in the snow was saved when a skier noticed the snowboard sticking out into the air.
The avalanche covered the skiers with a thick cloud of snow for one to two minutes.
Four of the climbers were swept approximately 500 feet down the mountain during the avalanche that ended up killing three of them, including a 66-year-old New Jersey man.
"Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County," Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims."