Instead, it turned into the worst-case scenario. Whalen, 46, suffocated to death underneath the deep snow at Heavenly Mountain Resort in Tahoe on March 1, 2023. His widow says the resort is to blame.

The smaller sibling of the full-size Chevrolet Suburban SUV, the Tahoe has been around for decades and is a strong choice both for hauling people and cargo and for towing boats, campers and trailers.