Heavenly names run after young skier who died
By Kathryn Reed
If people didn’t know who Emily Clothier was before, they will now – assuming they are skiing at Heavenly Mountain Resort.
A run off Stagecoach bears her name. Emily’s Run is printed on maps and posters of the ski resort. Signs go up this week.
Emily Clothier
Emily was 14 years old when she died in a ski racing accident at Heavenly in 2008. She had been a member of the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation for eight years.
“I wanted a legacy for Emily,” her father Steve Clothier told Lake Tahoe News. “A lot of good stuff has come out of a really bad situation.”
Clothier was instrumental in getting the resort to clear trees to make Stagecoach Run wider and safer. In doing so it essentially created another run. That new run is the one for Emily.
It’s in the area where she was skiing that day and where the racing team still practices.
The resort is not organizing a ceremony, but Clothier plans to gather the patrolmen who helped that tragic day and others to have a picture taken as soon as the sign goes up – which will be today or Friday. He envisions it being the family Christmas picture this year.
Heavenly has other runs named after people, but it’s been years since it has done so. It took going to corporate in Colorado to make this happen.
A memorial was established at the base of the tree where Emily was found. It’s a weatherproof shadow box that tells the story of what happened. Inside the box is a book people may write in.
“I ski by it every single day to see who signed it,” Clothier said.
Excellent way to keep her memory alive.
Psalm 116:15 “The death of one that belongs to the Lord is precious in his sight.”
1 Thess. 4:13-18 “My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won’t grieve over them and be like people who don’t have any hope. We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died…the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life…From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever. Encourage each other with these words.”
We remember Emily and miss her. Certainly, you do, most of all, and for your grief, I hope to offer this comfort, the reminder of your eternal and beautiful reunion, in Christ.