Grieving Petaluma dad treks to Tahoe to share cautionary message (w/video)

Driving to South Lake Tahoe brings tears to Kevin Byrne’s eyes.

That’s because it’s filled with memories of his 19-year-old daughter, Alyssa, who froze to death two years ago after wandering into the frigid woods outside the SnowGlobe Music Festival.

“Every time I hit the grade outside Placerville, I start thinking about it,” the Petaluma resident said Wednesday, his voice cracking. “It’s tough.”

But Byrne, who has launched an education campaign about the perils of drugs and cold weather, made the trek anyway. He went to deliver a few key messages to young people like Alyssa attending the three-day event that ends the morning of New Year’s Day:

Don’t party too hard. If you do, pair up with a buddy. Protect yourself against dehydration by drinking lots of water. And keep warm.

“Yesterday it was 17 degrees in the afternoon,” said Byrne. “I’m purple from the minute I get out of bed until I go back in it at night.”

Byrne dispensed advice and free water bottles from a booth at the festival entrance as part of his effort to prevent similar tragedies.

His daughter, a 2011 Casa Grande High graduate, died on New Year’s Eve in 2012 while attending the event on the South Lake Tahoe Community College campus with friends. Authorities said she left early, attempting to walk back to her Stateline hotel room alone rather than waiting in a long line for the shuttle bus.

She never made it. Her body was found in the snow four days later. An autopsy concluded she died of hypothermia after taking a large amount of methamphetamine.

Byrne said he believes she took what she thought was Ecstasy, a popular drug at rave-type events. He’s since learned how lethal it can be when mixed with freezing temperatures.

From his booth the past two days, he counseled young people and helped out with minor medical issues.

“My message is, don’t do the stuff to begin with,” Byrne said. “If you do, you need to be with someone. Up here, it’s cold at night.”

Since Alyssa’s death, SnowGlobe organizers have instituted several changes. Trails leading to and from the event are clearly marked with yellow police tape so people don’t wander off. Heated, indoor space has been expanded so crowds can warm up, said producer Chad Donnelly.

Also, he said the event has launched its own education campaign on social media about dressing appropriately for the weather. SnowGlobe attracts up to 15,000 people, including many from more temperate places like the Bay Area.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jeffrey Meston said newcomers have many misperceptions regarding cold weather.

“Oftentimes, people think alcohol warms you,” Meston said. “But it does exactly the opposite.”

Meanwhile, Byrne appears to be a man on a mission. He said he’ll return to the festival next year to promote the “buddy system.” Byrne said he couldn’t go last year because it was too soon after his daughter’s death.

His wife, Kim, stayed behind again this year, he said.

“She didn’t want to make the trip,” he said.

Byrne is sleeping in his dad’s old camper because hotels are too expensive. Not far away is an unofficial memorial to his daughter. He said her picture is nailed to a tree and it has teddy bears around it.

He was expecting to pay a visit New Year’s Eve.

“I’ll go there and just hang out for a while,” Byrne said. “The place is very special. It’s where Alyssa left the world.”

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.