Deadly Summer Avalanches in California
12th July 2023
Last modified on July 15th, 2023
For the past 13 years the US state has seen no deadly avalanches in the summer months. So far this summer there have been two fatalities.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Centre keeps national statistics on avalanche fatalities.
It shows that in the USA avalanche deaths rarely occur past April — and if they do then it’s usually in Alaska.
Not so this year.
- On June 14th a skier died on Mt Hurd in Inyo County, California.
- On July 2nd a hiker died on a Sierra peak west of Big Pine also in Inyo County.
Both were wet snow avalanches as the huge amount of snow that fell in California last winter melts.
The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Centre says “The big-picture takeaway is: Avalanches aren’t reserved for the winter months. If there’s snow on the ground, it’s definitely still possible.”
PlanetSKI was skiing in California in May as the European season ended:
- PlanetSKI goes spiring skiing in Palisades Tahoe
- Skiing Mammoth Mountain in the Spring: Part One
- Skiing Mammoth Mountain in the Spring: Part Two
We saw the huge amounts of snow that fell last winter.
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
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