Avalanche
A skier was swept about 150 feet in an avalanche on Mt. Olsen in the Virginia Lakes area of California’s Eastern Sierra Mountains on Sunday, November 30, according to an update shared by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) on December 2. The avalanche occurred at roughly 10,600 feet on a northeast-facing slope and broke 12 to 24 inches deep on a layer of weak, faceted snow. ESAC described the slide as a hard slab, a type of avalanche that tends to break suddenly and carry significant force. The skier who triggered the slide was carried downslope but was not injured.
ESAC noted that early-season snowpack conditions can create deceptively high risks. With thin coverage, exposed rocks, and persistent weak layers lurking beneath recent snow, a relatively small slide can have outsized consequences. “Avalanches are on the menu,” the center wrote, emphasizing that terrain hazards are magnified this time of year.
The skier involved submitted an observation to the avalanche center, contributing to public forecasting efforts and helping other backcountry users understand current conditions. More information and daily updates can be found at esavalanche.org.
