Missing Skier at China Peak Mission

Post date: Dec 29, 2010 11:30:30 PM

On Monday, December 27, 2010 the team was called out to assist in looking for a missing snowboarder up at China Peak Ski Resort. 

The initial report was an overdue snow-boarder, that the ski patrol was unable to locate after conducting a hasty search of the area.

Team members conducted a night search in the 60 inches of new snow, that had fallen during the last two weeks, as well as continuing the mission until concluded late Tuesday evening, with the location of the victim.  The victim's body was located and removed from the mountain.

Although the outcome was not as hoped, it is a testament to our teams ability to quickly mobilize and begin SAR operations in remote areas during less than perfect conditions.

Russ Richardson - Team Leader

Local News Article from KMJ:

By Dennis Hart

A massive manhunt ended with a tragic discovery at the China Peak ski resort Tuesday afternoon -- the body of a Fresno man who had been missing since Monday. 

Eli Shelby, 29, was found by China Peak skiers "who saw the tip of his snowboard," said Tim Cohee, the resort's owner.  "He either impacted the tree or slid backyards into the tree well," Cohee told KMJ News, "and perhaps was suffocated by the snow."  Shelby was found off the Lake View run.  He had gone snowboarding with his cousin on Monday.

Dozens of Fresno County search and rescue team personnel had headed to the hills to find him.

Local Television News from Channel 30 Action News:

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7868776