Ellery Curtis(Ellie), 26, a former All-American skier for Dartmouth College, died in a skiing accident at Palisades Tahoe resort in Olympic Valley, California. She had a profound impact on her family, friends, coworkers, the skiing community, and all of her loved ones.
Ellery Curtis A Rising Star in Collegiate Skiing
Ellie Curtis grew up in Waitsfield, Vermont. As a college student, she became a second-team All-American after finishing 8th in the giant slalom at the NCAA Championships in 2022. She was also named to the All-East Second Team as the 7th ranked women’s alpine skier in the East. Her coaches considered Ellie to be a great all around a student-athlete who participated in many organizations and environmental initiatives outside of skiing.
Career Objectives and Hobbies
After obtaining her Government and Environmental Studies degree from Dartmouth in 2022, Ellie moved to San Francisco.
Ellery Curtis was employed as a regulatory analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Ellie’s CPUC team clearly missed her because, as one spokesperson puts it, “she was a team player who cared deeply about environmental issues and was excited to begin her professional journey.”
As a colleague, Ellie was deeply missed by everyone who worked alongside her. Outside of work, her passion for the environment only flourished further. Her time spent with Mikes Bikes, a competitive mountain biking team, was littered with fond memories from teammates who remembered her passion and daredevil attitude. Even on the sports front, dear Ellie was a force to be reckoned with regardless of whether she was competing at a national level or at the local mountain events. One thing was for sure, she was always smiling while working hard.
The Tragic Accident
When the clock struck 3:45 PM on the fateful day of April 5th, 2025, Ellery Curtis was skiing with her friends at Palisades Tahoe resort. At that time, she was descending the oh-so-ghastly “Ahhh Chute” trail, which is a steep, north-facing bounded by rocks. Alas! Ski patrol tried their best, but Ellie couldn’t survive the ruthless head injury sustained from the icy slopes. Her death became the fourth for the resort and the fifth for the Sierra Nevada that year.
Tributes and Community Impact
Ellie’s death has received accolades of love and passion from all around her community.
Dartmouth College alumni described her as “an exceptional member of the Dartmouth family whose spirit, compassion, and drive left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.” Remembering his former pupil, coach John Dwyer shared,” She was one of the hardest workers I’ve had in my 10 years at Dartmouth, and that’s off the …” Fellow students and staff did not miss the show of compassion and positive attitude she radiated towards every task.
Understanding the “Ahhh Chute … Trail”
Palisades Tahoe has some beautiful ski resorts. For those who do not know the area, “Ahhh Chute” is a feature along the perimeter called “Ahhh Chute.” This is a very steep, narrow slit that is challenging to advance ski. Ski enthusiasts love this trail because the mogul fields are dynamic and full of excitement as well as danger. An excited skier describes the dynamic risk versus reward nature of these slopes: navigating through undulating bumps, lines, and skiing fast becomes an exhilarating challenge.
Conclusion
In spite of Ellery Curtis short life, Ellery Curtis accomplished much and pursued sports and environmental advocacy with unflagging passion. Her life is a reminder of the dangers posed by extreme sports and the need for safety precautions. While we remember Ellie, we celebrate her legacy of achievement, fidelity, and the profound impact she had on the lives of many.
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