Skistar admits errors in avalanche procedures
Swedish ski resort operator Skistar has admitted mistakes that could have prevented a 20-year-old man being dragged into an avalanche in Tegelfjäll in northern Sweden on Saturday.
"As there was an avalanche with people involved there is always someone who has made a misjudgement, and this time I can say that it was us," said Anders Aspholm at Skistar in Åre to Sveriges Radio.
"We should have closed the lift earlier in the day," he admitted.
The man was dragged into the avalanche in the Tegelfjäll valley located between Åre and Duved as he was on his way up in the lift.
A massive search operation was launched and the man was found a short while afterwards unhurt.
Fluctuations in temperature combined with heavy snow falls are reported to have been the factors behind the avalanche.
Skistar raised its avalanche risk warning to four on a five grade scale following the incident, meaning that all off-piste areas carry a warning.
The operator also indicated plans to close some prepared trails.
The weather front carrying hard winds and heavy snow moved out of Jämtland and Härjedalen during the night.
While some roads were closed during the night, most had been opened again in the morning and no serious accidents were reported.
TT/Peter Vinthagen Simpson
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"As there was an avalanche with people involved there is always someone who has made a misjudgement, and this time I can say that it was us," said Anders Aspholm at Skistar in Åre to Sveriges Radio.
"We should have closed the lift earlier in the day," he admitted.
The man was dragged into the avalanche in the Tegelfjäll valley located between Åre and Duved as he was on his way up in the lift.
A massive search operation was launched and the man was found a short while afterwards unhurt.
Fluctuations in temperature combined with heavy snow falls are reported to have been the factors behind the avalanche.
Skistar raised its avalanche risk warning to four on a five grade scale following the incident, meaning that all off-piste areas carry a warning.
The operator also indicated plans to close some prepared trails.
The weather front carrying hard winds and heavy snow moved out of Jämtland and Härjedalen during the night.
While some roads were closed during the night, most had been opened again in the morning and no serious accidents were reported.
TT/Peter Vinthagen Simpson
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