TRUCKEE, Calif. — 43-year-old Rory Angelotta left the ski shop where he worked early on Christmas Day for what authorities believe was supposed to be a quick run or two before dinner.
The 1996 graduate of St. Ignatius High School scanned his ski pass around 11:30 am at Northstar Ski Resort in Truckee and headed to a section of the mountain with many runs.
He never made it down to meet his friends for a planned Christmas dinner.
Sgt. Mike Power of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, which is helping coordinate the search, said recent inclement weather has limited the rescue efforts, including air support.
“On Christmas night, we went out there and the storm was just rolling in at that point and it was pretty heavy,” he said. “We were able to still scour the mountain. But it was pretty bad.”
Angelotta’ car was found in the parking lot. Rescues efforts continued on and off since Saturday. A large group searched again on Tuesday.
“From ancillary support personnel to actual volunteers, snowshoeing, skiing, in snowcats and snowmobiles, we had about 35 people out there,” Powers said.
Angelotta, who still has family in the Cleveland area, moved to Colorado years ago and to Truckee in the fall.
“He’d been up here for a few months since mid-October, but he was a very avid and experienced skier,” Power said.
Though the severe weather continues in Northern California, making surviving alone in the mountains difficult, the search was still on, Power said.
“The odds of surviving are extremely small, but we are not giving up,” he said.
One of Angelotta’s sisters arrived in Truckee Tuesday. The family, which has been texting with 3News, is hoping for a miracle.
Angelotta’s grandfather was John Angelotta, a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge for 38 years. He died in 2012.
This is a developing story. Check back with 3News as we receive updates.
MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND NORTHEAST OHIO: