Missing snowboarder spent the night at a hotel

Updated Jan. 10 11:45am

A missing snowboarder from Gardnerville said he spent the night at the Horizon hotel-casino with an acquaintance.

He called his dad about 9am Thursday to say he was fine. According to deputies who spoke with Corey Hoffman, he was unaware a search had started the previous evening at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

“After a lengthy interview with Corey and his brother who had reported him missing, we are unable to determine exactly what transpired,” Douglas County Undersheriff Paul Howell said in a statement. “The details are conflicting due to the consumption of alcohol.”

Hoffman claims he and his brother became separated at a bar in the Heavenly Village. The brother believes they became separated on the mountain.

The sheriff’s department reports the search involved 75 people from several jurisdictions and volunteer organizations, and two helicopters at an estimated to cost $40,000.

“More importantly in needlessly risked the safety of search and rescue personnel who conducted this search in bad weather and hazardous terrain,” Howell said.

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Updated: Jan. 10 10:25am

Missing snowboarder Corey Hoffman has been found alive. More details to come.

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Weather and avalanche conditions are hampering efforts to locate a Gardnerville man on Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Corey Hoffman, 24, was snowboarding with his brother Jan. 9 when they got separated. Hoffman has not been seen since Wednesday afternoon.

Douglas County sheriff’s deputies believe he is still on the mountain because Hoffman’s vehicle was located in the parking lot of the resort. The man’s cell phone was found in the vehicle.

Rescue teams plan to concentrate on the Mott Canyon and Daggett Creek drainages on the east slope and the in-bound ski areas near Stagecoach Lodge. Because Hoffman was boarding in and out of bounds Wednesday search efforts will include both in and out of bound areas.

Hoffman was wearing black snow pants, black sweat shirt, and brown hat with fur trim and black boots. He has an orange Camelback pack and has a red snowboard.

Douglas County Search and Rescue, El Dorado County SAR and Heavenly ski patrol searched throughout the night. Their efforts have been hampered by snow, wind, and avalanche danger.

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and Tahoe Nordic will join the effort today. It’s possible a Navy search helicopter from NAS Fallon will be part of the search.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report