A Los Alamitos man has been killed in a snowboarding accident after apparently snowboarding in the mountains on a back-country trail near Mammoth Mountain ski resort, according to the Mono County Sheriff’s Department.
Officials say Justin Khoshnevis, 32, was apparently snowboarding in a remote area at the time of the accident. Reports also say eyewitnesses saw the snowboarder falling from the cliffs above Twin Lakes, Mono County Sheriff’s Office reported. He was alone at the time of his death.
“On March 19, 2019, at approximately 3:50 p.m., Mono County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting that a person was seen falling from the cliffs above Twin Lakes, across from Tamarack Lodge and north of “Hole in the Wall,” according to the department’s Facebook post.
“Our dispatch immediately sent personnel from Mono County Paramedics, Mammoth Lakes Fire Department and Mammoth Lakes Police Department,” they said.
Fire responders reportedly hiked up to the area and determined that Khoshnevis the died as a result of injuries sustained in the fall. His snowboard was found along the path of his descent.
Officials said it appeared as though Khoshnevis came across the ridge-line from “Dragon’s Tail, a remote area outside the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. Apparently, the Los Al snowboarder could have been making an attempt to ride a favorite chute called ‘Hole in the Wall’ when the accident occurred, they said in the statement.
“This tragic incident is a reminder that ski area boundaries are established for your safety. Anything outside the ski area boundary is considered backcountry, and the decision to enter the backcountry should be made with great care. Always ride with a partner; have a plan; know your route; and carry the proper equipment,” they concluded.