120 people freed after being trapped by snow for 5 days at Sierra Nevada resort
/ AP
Los Angeles — More than 120 visitors and staff who were snowbound in a Sierra Nevada resort for five days have been freed, authorities said Friday. Up to 7 feet of snow trapped the guests and staff at Montecito Sequoia Lodge in Kings Canyon National Park starting Sunday following a storm, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Alicia Embrey said.
Crews had to travel by snowmobile to get to the lodge in the mountains east of Fresno on Wednesday morning, when they ensured everyone was safe. They returned Thursday with additional supplies, she said.
Heavy equipment and crews then cleared more than 20 fallen trees and 8 miles of deep snow on the road leading to the lodge to allow guests and staff to finally leave the property on Thursday night.
Though some got bored during the snow-in, Embrey said the lodge had enough food, fuel and general supplies to keep everyone comfortable.
"Physically they were fine," Embrey said. "They were obviously happy to go home."
Joel Keeler posted several videos of his experience at the lodge on Twitter starting Tuesday, when the snow was still coming down and guests learned they still weren't going to be able to leave.
The next day, he posted: "It's cold, clear and beautiful, but we're still snowed in!"
"They are working hard to clear the road … Still a lot of driveway left tho!" he wrote.
On Thursday, he posted that guests were finally going to go home, sharing video of the cleared roadway and a caravan of dozens of snow-capped vehicles snaking their way out next to towering snowbanks.
The snow that trapped the guests began falling Friday, blanketing the area with between 4 to 7 feet by Saturday night, Embrey said, adding that roads to the lodge were closed by Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, another winter storm is on the way to the region.
Meteorologists issued a winter storm warning for the southern Sierra Nevada starting Friday afternoon, predicting more snow, high winds and potentially hazardous conditions including falling trees and slick roads.
The Forest Service urged visitors to travel with extreme caution.
"The most recent storm has left very little room to maneuver and nowhere to put new snow," Ned Kelleher, chief ranger for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, said in a statement.
He added: "The trees are snow and ice laden and the accumulating new snow will cause failures."
First published on February 8, 2019
© 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
120 people freed after being trapped by snow for 5 days
Though some got bored during the snow-in, the Forest Service said the lodge had enough food, fuel and general supplies to keep everyone comfortable
updated 18M ago
Trump-Kim Jong Un summit to take place in Hanoi
The meeting will be held on Feb. 27 and 28
1H ago
Justin Fairfax accused of sexual assault by second woman
A second woman comes forward — a college classmate of the Virginia lieutenant governor accused him of raping her when they were at Duke in 2000
1H ago
Lawsuit claims deputies "literally watched" inmate die
Lawsuit says jail staff never got India Cummings proper treatment as her physical and mental health declined over 17 days
1H ago
"Fiji Water Girl" is countersued by Fiji Water over Golden Globes photos
The countersuit claims Kelleth Cuthbert, who went viral for her Golden Globes photobombing, wants "to extort" money from the water company
2H ago
Trump-Kim Jong Un summit to take place in Hanoi
The meeting will be held on Feb. 27 and 28
1H ago
Justin Fairfax accused of sexual assault by second woman
A second woman comes forward — a college classmate of the Virginia lieutenant governor accused him of raping her when they were at Duke in 2000
1H ago
White House does not meet deadline on Khashoggi killing
President Trump was supposed to meet a deadline to determine whether the Saudi government was responsible for Khashoggi's death on Feb. 7
2H ago
Wife desperately attempts to claim husband's body amid backlog at Puerto Rico's morgue
Puerto Rican officials say the backlog can't be stabilized without immediate assistance from the federal government
updated 31M ago
Here's what to take from Kavanaugh's first abortion case
The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a law in Louisiana that would have closed all but one of the state's abortion providers
3H ago
Sierra Leone declares national emergency over rape
President says hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault are reported each month against women, girls and babies
1H ago
Men who fled ISIS territory are being interrogated
ISIS militants have been caught sneaking out with their families and protesting their innocence
2H ago
Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Jubeir denies Saudi government role in leaks to AMI
Al-Jubeir sat down for an interview with "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan to air this Sunday
4H ago
School cancels Darwin play after complaints from Christian parents
"It really does feel like a huge step backwards," said one parent about the decision
4H ago
Two lawmakers call for end to unlicensed migrant children detention facilities
A bill proposed by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Judy Chu would shutter the country's largest facility for migrant kids
4H ago
Major artists turned down Grammy performances, producer says
Ehrlich admitted the Grammys has a problem in the hip-hop world – he may also have a problem in the pop world after a confrontation with Ariana Grande
3H ago
Spike Lee boycotts Gucci and Prada over blackface items
His boycott was a powerful message to fashion houses
5H ago
Preview: Oscar-nominee Spike Lee doesn't need awards to validate his work
The filmmaker talks about being nominated for the Best Director Academy Award for the first time, for "BlacKkKlansman"
8H ago
Ariana Grande slams Grammys producer
"I've kept my mouth shut but now you're lying about me," she tweeted
8H ago
Albert Finney, Oscar-nominated actor, dies at 82
Albert Finney's family said that he "passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side."
2H ago
Wells Fargo outage: Customers say direct deposits aren't showing up
Banking customers complained about problems accessing their accounts, while the bank vowed to reverse fees
4H ago
Global lawmakers try again to get Zuckerberg to testify
A Facebook vice president sat next to an empty chair reserved for CEO Mark Zuckerberg when the committee met in London last year
Feb 7
NASA and SpaceX reset Crew Dragon test flight for March 2
The Crew Dragon and Starliner spacecraft are the centerpieces of NASA's drive to resume launching U.S. astronauts aboard U.S. rockets from U.S. soil
Feb 6
Earth could be headed for warmest period on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
Feb 7
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
Feb 5
Hundreds rally against vaccinations amid measles outbreak
Washington currently allows parents to refuse vaccines for philosophical reasons
2H ago
Measles anywhere is a threat to kids everywhere
Homegrown outbreaks in the U.S. aren't caused by lack of access to a vaccine, but because parents in this country are choosing not to get their kids vaccinated
1H ago
Bill would require vaccinations amid Northwest measles outbreak
Cecilia Rodriguez was too young to be vaccinated when she contracted measles. 30 years later, her eye sight, speech and hearing are still affected.
11H ago
Walgreens tops list for illegal cigarette sales to minors
FDA says the drugstore chain has racked up nearly 1,800 violations for selling tobacco products to children
Feb 7
Ozzy Osbourne hospitalized after flu complications
"His doctors feel this is the best way to get him on a quicker road to recovery," tweeted his wife Sharon
Feb 6
"Fiji Water Girl" is countersued by Fiji Water over Golden Globes photos
The countersuit claims Kelleth Cuthbert, who went viral for her Golden Globes photobombing, wants "to extort" money from the water company
2H ago
Gucci and Prada aim for outrageousness, get outrage
Upscale fashion designers spur backlash with racist designs — are they as clueless as they seem?
2H ago
Target updates app after TV station reveals in-store price hikes
The TV station randomly picked 10 items and found four of them jumped in price when they approached a store
4H ago
So far, tax refunds this year are smaller than in 2018
Average refund dropped by $170 from this time last year, leaving some taxpayers fuming
4H ago
Spike Lee boycotts Gucci and Prada over blackface items
His boycott was a powerful message to fashion houses
5H ago
Sierra Leone declares national emergency over rape
President says hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault are reported each month against women, girls and babies
1H ago
Lawsuit claims deputies "literally watched" inmate die
Lawsuit says jail staff never got India Cummings proper treatment as her physical and mental health declined over 17 days
1H ago
Customs officer shoots, injures man at U.S.-Mexico border
The driver was transported to a local hospital; the officer was not injured
2H ago
Record 1.7 tons of meth found hidden in loudspeakers bound for Australia
Six people, including two Americans, were arrested after what authorities said Friday was the largest-ever seizure of methamphetamine on U.S. soil
5H ago
Staffer shot at Baltimore high school; suspect taken into custody
Police said all of the students at Frederick Douglass High School are safe
7H ago Original Article