Yesterday, in his entry under "2026," Doug Sr notes at least 6 recent snow related fatalities in the mountains ranging from Mammoth Lakes to Mt Baldy.
I live farther north in the State and unfortunately add to the list a self triggered avalanche fatality involving a snowmobiler four days ago (Jan 5) next to Castle Peak (9104').
I make the short hike (2.5 miles, 2100' elevation gain) a few times each snow season to Castle Peak. It is conveniently located just off I 80 next to Donner Summit. Often avalanche classes are encountered doing field work in the area. Some SAR teams might be seen practicing, too.
Usually I check out the avalanche forecast on the Sierra Avalanche Center website before driving up from the Sacramento area. Typically, some of the slopes around Castle Peak need attention. On Jan 5, the avalanche forecast was "considerable."
Once every year or two, a good refresher read is the short booklet "Snow Sense", published by the Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Inc, Anchorage, Alaska. A reread helps the "avalanche eyeballs" stay in shape.
Unfortunately, this thread has to be updated, as Castle Peak is back in the news.
At noon today a group of 16 backcountry skiers were caught in a large avalanche near Castle Peak. Six skiers are known to have survived and are awaiting extraction from the scene. The other 10 skiers apparently have not been located.
This morning the Sierra Avalanche Center rated the avalanche risk in the area as HIGH, meaning "large avalanches are expected to occur."
Praying for the missing 10 skiers and their families and friends.
Jim
PS: Today has seen a big storm in this area and I-80 (which passes by Castle Peak) is closed for many miles in each direction.
All the avalanche center warnings, probes, beacons, and shovels can't protect individuals who exercise poor judgement. Unfortunately this also put the good folks associated with rescue teams in danger.
The irony is that the website of the guide service emphasizes avalanche safety courses. You don't have to take an avalanche safety course to know that the first principle of avalanche safety is to stay out of the mountains when avalanche danger is high. The second principle is that avalanche danger is high when a mid-winter major storm follows a dry period, creating a layer of new soft snow not bonded to the snow below. The storm was forecasted, and the area was well known to be vulnerable to avalanche danger. Yet the guides did not cancel the trip, and do not appear to have shortened it either.
I agree with Scott's comment. You can't rely on beacons, probes, shovels and techniques learned in courses to save you from errors in judgement.
Hopefully, this will turn out better than it looks now.
I watched as the news came out about noon yesterday , very limited information but the reporting indicated 6 had got to safety but 10(9) still missing , later another guide company posted a brief update . My first thoughts of S&R heading up in near whiteout conditions and knowing one slide had released and heavy snow conditions could release more slides. A few minutes ago the press release reported 8 of the missing 9 found no longer alive. Very sad tragic event that will be shared by the families , friends and the mountain community world wide.
On the 15th I posted about the classic setup, clear blue skies, 3 day weekend, storm projection a few days off and thoughts can be" we will be out before the storm"
Cayden and Mya checked the road and parking lot (closed gate at the bottom) no cars in the lot , about 6 inches of snow at the gate area , snow level about Lone Pine Campground and down lower but very light that should melt out after a few hours of sun.
I know I am repeating myself, but the thing that makes this tragedy so awful, aside from its magnitude, is that the decision-makers were people for whom avalanche safety courses were a bread-and-butter product.
The bio of the founder and owner of the guide service:
I am sure we will see a book about this in a few years.
In 1975, two young guides, about 20 years old, turned us back on Denali because of avalanche danger. Their boss, Ray Genet, the king of Denali at the time, was furious and sacked them. An event I've seen recounted in several books. Ray tried to talk us into going back up the mountain, and offered us a free return the next year. Although my relationship with him remained cordial, I thought he was dead wrong, that sacking the guides was deplorable, and I never wanted to be in a situation where my life depended on his judgment. It was my second and last experience with a guided trip. I decided that from then on I would do serious climbing only with friends who I knew well.
Snowing again in Lone Pine and Cayden went up checking the road. Big snow now maybe drifts of 4-6 feet , he made it to just above Lone Pine campground and turned around snow on the road 12"-18'" . This storm cycle looks like one some years ago and might cover the valley crest to crest.
Strong winds are causing the drifts and looking at the spin off the crest yesterday upper elevations will be well loaded over the icy crust from the old snow surface. Would expect some slide activity , NRT prime area as it starts to melt and rocks come down. Road area : the top of the first switchback 500' up the road always slides during these storms.
Indeed, this morning the Owens Valley North camera shows Snow Covering the Valley Crest to Crest. Currently, the Caltrans website shows chains required north of Big Pine.
Doug Sr., Thanks for writing your book “30 Years on the Mtn”. Just finished reading cover to cover and loved it. I’ve summited Whitney 2 times, but there is still a bunch of helpful stuff in there.
A detailed, long and interesting discussion of the Castle Peak avalanche tragedy. A number of the contributors have detailed knowledge of the area and avalanche conditions. But there are differences of opinion. Some defend the guides. They argue that the guides were threading their way through terrain and snow conditions that should have been safe, and the likely problem was white-out conditions that led them to be slightly off-route, and bunched up. But others disagree. One posts a chilling avalanche warning issued by the Sierra Avalanche Center that morning. It does not take much imagination to read it as 'Don't rely on normal safety factors.'
I am inclined to take the view that relying too much on detailed knowledge rather than general principles can be dangerous.
Thanks Roady glad you liked the read .I had a lot of help with friends and family and all the people we have talked with on Whitney and other areas, It's interesting the topic below about the avalanche and the search for the Why , was the main focus on the third edition,
I tried to hint at when the accident started and the social/group influence or reaction when things take a turn. The 4 zones that most don't understand and why they play a critical role in what one should do when...
A very hard fact that we see all to often is assumption that " I did X so how much harder can this be ? They said... I am just going with the group they should know .
A group of 15 plans made, guides shelter reserved and the chance of fresh powder . I recall during school a theory I think " Bales Robert" about strength and relationships in a group.
A detailed account of the Castle Peak tragedy, from an interview with two male survivors, both clients. Very informative. If you don't subscribe to the New York Times, you may be able to sign up for a limited number of free articles per month.
You can skip the Rescue portion of the article...no much there...but there's some interesting information on different forms of Snow Blindness which can be an issue on Whitney...
