Inbounds Avalanche at Mammoth Mountain Triggers Extensive Search
An inbounds avalanche occurred at Mammoth Mountain, California, on Tuesday, March 25, after a natural rockslide triggered a dry slab slide near Starr Chute. Ski patrollers quickly responded and eventually concluded that fortunately, no skiers or employees were caught in the slide. No injuries were reported.
Mammoth Mountain issued the following statement in an Operations Update:
“At approximately 1:00 p.m. today a natural rockslide triggered an avalanche on the northeast side of the mountain under Starr Chute. Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol was on-scene immediately and conducted transceiver, RECCO, dog, and probe searches which confirmed eye-witness reports that there were no guests or employees in the area at the time of the incident. All search efforts had concluded at 3:47 p.m.”
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Heavy Snowfall & Prime Spring Skiing Conditions
The avalanche comes as Mammoth Mountain prepares for an extended ski season through Memorial day weekend (May 26). With immense snowfall in the last two months (over 10 feet of fresh snow since early February) and a base depth ranging from 8 to 14 feet, conditions are ideal for spring skiing.
This latest incident follows a February 14 inbounds avalanche at Mammoth Mountain that tragically claimed the life of a ski patroller. That slide occurred during avalanche mitigation work on Lincoln Mountain after a powerful Sierra storm dropped six feet of snow in just 36 hours.
Avalanche Triggered by Rockfall Near Starr Chute
Just before 1:00 p.m., a rockfall event occurred in the cliffs to the skiers' right of Starr Chute in the Whitebark Bowl area, looker's right of Chair 23. The falling rock triggered an avalanche that carved a a 20-foot-deep trough and creating a debris field below. In response, Mammoth Mountain temporarily closed Chair 23, 9, 12, 14, and the upper Gondola, according to Snowbrains. Check out a video of the slide here.
We're thankful no one was hurt in this slide.
