All Operations have ceased for the day due to extreme weather and an inbound avalanche on Lincoln Mountain. The area was not open to skiers and riders at the time of the slide. Operations are expected to resume tomorrow, Saturday, February 15.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Inbound Avalanche
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
How much snow did you guys get over there this week? I was planning on heading over to that side of the Sierra, but had some stuff come up. I love a good storm, but that one might have been a bit much for me.
It's hard to say how much we got because of wind drifts all around our house. I would estimate 2-3 feet minimum in town. We live in the eastern part of town about a quarter mile line of sight to the ranger station and the east part of town gets the least amount of snow. We've had high winds with this storm and periodic closures of 395. 395 is closed from 8 miles north of Lee Vining to Bridgeport (Conway Summit area) due to high winds and low visibility. The high winds are causing a great deal of wind deposited snow which leads high avalanche danger.
The ski area avalanche involved the ski patrol. I can't say anything more about it at this time. My first post is a copy and paste from the ski area website.
Yesterday during the heaviest part of the storm the ski area only had a total of 4 lifts open, all low level out of Eagle Lodge and Canyon Lodge. They ended up with only 3 open by the end of the day. All serving green (easy) and blue (moderate difficulty) trails only. We have blue skies here in town, but it is still snowing moderately at the ski area.
Figure twice as much snow at the ski area main lodge as a general rule.
Figure twice as much snow at the ski area main lodge as a general rule.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Thanks. I've been there many times in the summer, only a few times in the winter. Never in a big storm like this last one.
Press release from Mammoth Mountain. Sorry for the delay, it was time for the weekly cleaning/ash removal for our pellet stove, which took about 75 minutes to accomplish.
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN SKI AREA
At approximately 11:30 AM today, two Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol staff were caught in an avalanche on Lincoln Mountain. The slide occurred during avalanche mitigation work, following a significant Sierra snow storm, where approximately 6 feet of snow fell in the last 36 hours.
The first patroller was recovered at the scene uninjured; the second patroller was transported to Mammoth Hospital with serious injuries and later flown out of the area for further care.
The area was closed to the public at the time of the incident.
The entire mountain and lift operations were closed at 12:00 PM for the day.
END
The injured patroller received CPR and was later stabilized at Mammoth Hospital (wonderful!). They were in an area of the mountain where the howitzers don't reach, so they were LIKELY (not confirmed) using hand charges followed by ski cutting. The latter is a method where the patrollers shallow ski traverse the entire width of a run (trail) jumping up and down in their skis to add stress to the slope to make sure the slope will not experience an avalanche later when guests are skiing the run. They then turn around and traverse in the opposite direction until they get to the bottom of the slope.
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN SKI AREA
At approximately 11:30 AM today, two Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol staff were caught in an avalanche on Lincoln Mountain. The slide occurred during avalanche mitigation work, following a significant Sierra snow storm, where approximately 6 feet of snow fell in the last 36 hours.
The first patroller was recovered at the scene uninjured; the second patroller was transported to Mammoth Hospital with serious injuries and later flown out of the area for further care.
The area was closed to the public at the time of the incident.
The entire mountain and lift operations were closed at 12:00 PM for the day.
END
The injured patroller received CPR and was later stabilized at Mammoth Hospital (wonderful!). They were in an area of the mountain where the howitzers don't reach, so they were LIKELY (not confirmed) using hand charges followed by ski cutting. The latter is a method where the patrollers shallow ski traverse the entire width of a run (trail) jumping up and down in their skis to add stress to the slope to make sure the slope will not experience an avalanche later when guests are skiing the run. They then turn around and traverse in the opposite direction until they get to the bottom of the slope.
More from Mammoth Mountain:
Operations Update for Saturday, February 15: Due to extreme avalanche danger, all mountain operations will be delayed. We will focus our efforts first at Canyon and Eagle Lodge, however, lifts are not expected to spin prior to 10:00 AM. All lifts will need to be individually assessed, dug out and proper mitigation must take place before any terrain opens. Patience will need to be practiced tomorrow – stay tuned for updates in the morning.
Operations Update for Saturday, February 15: Due to extreme avalanche danger, all mountain operations will be delayed. We will focus our efforts first at Canyon and Eagle Lodge, however, lifts are not expected to spin prior to 10:00 AM. All lifts will need to be individually assessed, dug out and proper mitigation must take place before any terrain opens. Patience will need to be practiced tomorrow – stay tuned for updates in the morning.
This last storm's gave Mammoth Mountain only 50" total. That is for a location near the Main Lodge/Mammoth Mountain Inn area, just below the top of Chair 12 (for those that know the mountain). I say only as it seemed like there would have been more, but it is very welcome indeed. The first real storm of the season. Now maybe those guys who groom the "Unbound" terrain parks can build a halfpipe and the full compliment of terrain features that attract so many boarders and skiers.
I hope we get 3-4 more of these storms, with a little less wind however. We need at least another average year. To heck with droughts.
I hope we get 3-4 more of these storms, with a little less wind however. We need at least another average year. To heck with droughts.
Talkgroups on the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area radio system used for this incident were 2020, Ski Patrol 1 and then 2021 Ski Patrol 2. Once the incident was reported on Ski Patrol 1 comms were then transferred to Ski Patrol 2. Medical response was dispatched on 153.8600, Mono County Fire. Both the Mammoth Fire Department and Mono County Paramedics responded. Comms from the paramedics to the emergency room at Mammoth Hospital were conducted on Mono County EMS on 154.025. Repeaters on this channel are not used within the Town of Mammoth Lakes and within simplex range of the hospital.
Artillery (howitzers) hasn't been used much this winter, perhaps only once so far. I expect they will be used tomorrow morning at first light. There are a lot of wind loaded slopes that pose a considerable (extreme) avalanche danger. The artillery is housed in three locations. One on the top of Lincoln Mountain, the top of Chair 1 and one near the north side of Reds Lake near Chair 14. Wind loaded snow is dangerous because it is compacted by the wind and deposited on top of previously (winter long) layers of snow that might be warmer and weaker than the heavy slab above it. Vapor from the warmer snow has a positive vapor pressure which is drawn by the colder, less vapor pressure snow in the slab above. When it does so it is a quick process that forms layers full of snow particles that don't bond well. When weight is applied to these wind compacted layers the newly weaker layers collapse and sent hard slabs down the slope, i.e. an avalanche. The percussion of an artillery shell sends shockwaves through the snow and release avalanches while people aren't present. These guns are located to shoot at the high elevations of the mountain, which have very long slopes that are too large for handheld explosives to adequately reach. Hand charges are used below the gun positions where the slopes (ski trails or runs) are shorter. This is followed by ski patrollers ski cutting the slopes, which I explained above. This is as simple as I can make this explanation. Snow physics is a complicated subject and take years of experience to learn.
I hope this helps explain what is involved in the work the two patrollers were engaged in when this accident occurred. My job in the Sierra Nevada on both Ranger Districts I worked here required some avalanche knowledge so I completed the course put on by the National Avalanche Center, a public (U.S. Forest Service) private (National Avalanche Foundation) partnership.
Artillery (howitzers) hasn't been used much this winter, perhaps only once so far. I expect they will be used tomorrow morning at first light. There are a lot of wind loaded slopes that pose a considerable (extreme) avalanche danger. The artillery is housed in three locations. One on the top of Lincoln Mountain, the top of Chair 1 and one near the north side of Reds Lake near Chair 14. Wind loaded snow is dangerous because it is compacted by the wind and deposited on top of previously (winter long) layers of snow that might be warmer and weaker than the heavy slab above it. Vapor from the warmer snow has a positive vapor pressure which is drawn by the colder, less vapor pressure snow in the slab above. When it does so it is a quick process that forms layers full of snow particles that don't bond well. When weight is applied to these wind compacted layers the newly weaker layers collapse and sent hard slabs down the slope, i.e. an avalanche. The percussion of an artillery shell sends shockwaves through the snow and release avalanches while people aren't present. These guns are located to shoot at the high elevations of the mountain, which have very long slopes that are too large for handheld explosives to adequately reach. Hand charges are used below the gun positions where the slopes (ski trails or runs) are shorter. This is followed by ski patrollers ski cutting the slopes, which I explained above. This is as simple as I can make this explanation. Snow physics is a complicated subject and take years of experience to learn.
I hope this helps explain what is involved in the work the two patrollers were engaged in when this accident occurred. My job in the Sierra Nevada on both Ranger Districts I worked here required some avalanche knowledge so I completed the course put on by the National Avalanche Center, a public (U.S. Forest Service) private (National Avalanche Foundation) partnership.
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A big error right off the bat in the above post. It should read 1020, Ski Patrol 1 and 1021, Ski Patrol 2. Talkgroups in the 2000 series are used at June Mtn.
I still have nothing I can share about the condition of the second ski patroller who was taken to the hospital. This out of respect for the patroller's family. I have a lot of information that is second hand from some seemingly solid sources. I've lived here for 38 years and have heard a lot of rumors about all sorts of situations and it has taught me not to repeat rumors. It turns out that a lot of seemingly solid sources have gotten it wrong about 90% or more of the time. When an update to the story is available on the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area or Ski Patroller's Alumni Sites, or the local newspapers, then I will share.
Just posted on the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Facebook page, the critically injured ski patrolwoman has passed away. Condolences to the family of this rookie ski patroller.
ecps92
Member
Mammoth Mountain ski patroller dies after caught in avalanche
A ski patroller died a week after an avalanche trapped her and another while doing mitigation work, the resort announced.
www.abc10.com
L.A. Times Article on Avalanche - Deceased Patroller Named
A valiant effort was made to save her life. It has been reported that 48 minutes of CPR was performed once she was removed from the avalanche debris. She did begin to breath on her own, but never regained consciousness. I would label that a heroic effort. Given that she had to be removed from the slope to a waiting paramedic rig, taken to the Mammoth Hospital, transported to the Bishop Airport and then flown to Renown Medical Center in Reno, this effort to save her life had complicated logistics. She could not be taken directly from the Mammoth Airport due to high cross winds closing the facility. The information for the above was gathered from some solid sources, which I didn't mention until now. I believe these sources to be close enough to the actual events making them accurate.
It has been 19 years since 3 Mammoth Mountain Ski Area patrollers have died on the job. In early 2006 three patrollers died when they fell into a hole in the snow formed by a fumerole that was emitting carbon dioxide gas, which is heavier than air, and replaces oxygen in low places in the snowpack. These deaths highlight the fact that what the ski patrol is obviously hazardous and requires skill. These patrollers are the first responders to all injuries on the mountain, some of these being serious injuries. It takes a lot of training (on going) and experience to fill these positions. They deserve a thumbs up and/or the shout of a thanks when you see them while skiing.
A valiant effort was made to save her life. It has been reported that 48 minutes of CPR was performed once she was removed from the avalanche debris. She did begin to breath on her own, but never regained consciousness. I would label that a heroic effort. Given that she had to be removed from the slope to a waiting paramedic rig, taken to the Mammoth Hospital, transported to the Bishop Airport and then flown to Renown Medical Center in Reno, this effort to save her life had complicated logistics. She could not be taken directly from the Mammoth Airport due to high cross winds closing the facility. The information for the above was gathered from some solid sources, which I didn't mention until now. I believe these sources to be close enough to the actual events making them accurate.
It has been 19 years since 3 Mammoth Mountain Ski Area patrollers have died on the job. In early 2006 three patrollers died when they fell into a hole in the snow formed by a fumerole that was emitting carbon dioxide gas, which is heavier than air, and replaces oxygen in low places in the snowpack. These deaths highlight the fact that what the ski patrol is obviously hazardous and requires skill. These patrollers are the first responders to all injuries on the mountain, some of these being serious injuries. It takes a lot of training (on going) and experience to fill these positions. They deserve a thumbs up and/or the shout of a thanks when you see them while skiing.
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At the beginning of the season, sometime just after Thanksgiving and then again in July, the ski patrol was doing avalanche drills. They were locating people using avalanche beepers to simulate ski patrollers getting buried and dogs to simulate public burials. This is how I discovered the talkgroup labeled "Ski Patrol 2," which is the channel they used for this simulation. Each ski patrol member was taking on the role of being the first on scene and then calling for additional resources according to what the mock incident involved. I believe this practice is what allowed the ski patrol to have a chance to save the critically injured ski patrolwoman. It's too bad that it didn't work in the end, but the effort was definitely worth it.
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