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Guided Trip Turned Catastrophe Near Frog Lake
- A guided group of 15 skiers left Frog Lake huts near Castle Peak and were caught in a midday avalanche during a storm.
- Survivors described desperate rescue attempts and sheltering until ski-rescue teams reached them around 5:30 p.m.
Dry January Then Heavy Storm Amplified Instability
- A dry January followed by a cold storm produced loose powder over a weak, warm-influenced base, creating highly unstable Sierra snowpack.
- Sarah Wright emphasized that limited earlier snow plus heavy new loading made a strange, dangerous slab situation.
Avalanche Mechanics Vary With Snow Climate
- Avalanche behavior differs by snow climate: maritime ranges like the Sierras produce big storm-driven, warmer snowpacks; Colorado has colder, thinner continental snowpacks.
- Ethan Greene used this to explain why formation and release mechanics vary regionally.