BE CAREFUL OUT THERE FOLKS
02-02) Bridgport, Calif. (AP) -
An avalanche in the Sierra Nevada killed a skier and injured two others, authorities said Thursday.
A 31-year-old Mammoth Lakes woman with a broken back, broken leg and other injuries was pronounced dead Wednesday after being flown to a Fresno hospital, said Shannon Kendall, spokeswoman for the Mono County Sheriff's Department.
The victim's identity was not immediately released pending notification of relatives.
Joshua Feinburt, 30, and Christopher J. Pearson, 27, both of Mammoth Lakes, survived.
The three friends were skiing in the backcountry near Black Smith Canyon in the Twin Lakes area when they were caught in the avalanche, Kendall said.
"All three skiers were extremely experienced and carried avalanche beacons with them," Kendall said.
Pearson was able to hold on to a tree until it subsided then dug his friends out of the snow and moved them to a safer location, she said.
Feinburg was not breathing but Pearson cleared his airway and he revived. He had a large cut to his jaw that was treated after his rescue.
The woman slipped in and out of consciousness, Kendall said.
Pearson skied about a half-hour to Mono Village and used a store telephone to call for help. Sheriff's deputies and more than a dozen members of the volunteer search and rescue team went to the remote area with snowmobiles, snowshoes and first aid equipment, Kendall said.
Bridgeport is 184 miles east of San Francisco.
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From the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center:
Current Avalanche Advisory
Issued February 1, 2006
This is Sue Burak with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center with a special avalanche bulletin posted at 9pm, Wednesday, February 1, 2006.
A large slab avalanche occurred today on an east facing slope in the Sawtooth area out of Bridgeport. Preliminary reports indicate 3 people were involved. There are very few details at this time.
Backcountry skiers and riders should take this incident as a warning to be cautious on all wind loaded slopes. The winds and warming trend have created areas of new relatively dense slabs at elevations above 9,000 ft. This dense wind slab may sit on top of weaker layers of lower density snow.
East to southeast aspects receive greater amounts of solar radiation this time of year which produces melting of the snow surface. Sunballs, rollers, and point releases from rocks are signs of snow surface instability. Wet loose slides may also be triggered by snow bombs falling from trees, new snow melting and releasing from rock bands or cliffs, or snow rollers which gather snow and momentum as they pinwheel downslope. While loose slides may be rather small initially, they can and often do entrain considerable wet weak surface snow as they descend.
Another thing to look out for are unstable cornices near the lee side of ridgetops. Extra caution is advised on slopes below cornices and on the ridgeline near such deposits.
Mountain Weather
Unsettled weather will continue tomorrow with west winds gusting to 40 and 50 mph over the ridgetops. Daytime highs will be in upper 30's and low 40's at the 8,000 ft level with lows around 22-25 F. The outlook is for dry and warm weather for Friday and the weekend.
Avalanche Danger Rating
Stability tests in the Mammoth and Bishop area show a well bonded snowpack. In light of the Blacksmith Creek avalanche, eastern windloaded aspects may deserve special attention, however I do not feel comfortable issuing an avalanche danger rating until I visit the site or receive more detailed information. If you are in the backcountry and observe avalanche activity or dig a snowpit, please post to the discussion board.
This advisory is our best interpretation of snow pack conditions and NWS forecasts issued today. Please read the following paragraph:
Avalanches do not happen by accident and most human involvement is a matter of choice, not chance. Most avalanche accidents are caused by slab avalanches that are triggered by the victim or member of the victim's party. Even small slides can be dangerous. Always practice route finding skills and carry avalanche rescue gear. Remember that avalanche danger ratings are only general guidelines. Distinctions between geographic areas, elevations, slope aspects and slope angles should be made.
For an explanation of avalanche danger ratings:
http://www.esavalanche.org/HazardScale.htm
