A hiker was killed, and two others were injured after they were caught in a wet landslide avalanche in the Sierra’s Big Pine in California.
Hiker Dead and Two Others Injured In Landslide
The unidentified hiking party encountered a wet slide avalanche while descending Split Mountain on July 2 around 4:30 p.m., the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.
The hikers had reached the summit of the mountain, located above Red Lake, near Big Pine, California, earlier in the day, according to investigators.
None of the hikers were buried in the avalanche; however, it was strong enough to sweep the party onto rocky terrain, the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center said in a statement. All three were hurt and one of the hiker’s wounds were fatal, according to the avalanche center.
Split Mountain is one of the 11 California peaks that is over 14,000 feet tall. It’s also considered by hiking professionals as likely the most difficult of the group to get to.
Authorities said three hikers had become stranded while descending the mountain after summitting earlier in the day.
“It’s critical to recognize that conditions this year are unprecedented with the amount of runoff we’re seeing in creeks and rivers and the volume of snow still left to melt in the backcountry,” the Inyo County Office of Emergency Services said on Instagram.
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