Avalanche Rescuers Train For The Worst As El Niño Storms Dump Snow On Sierra
TAHOE (CBS SF) -- As El Niño storms dump fresh snow on the Sierra this year, the Tahoe Fire Protection District is training for the possibility of an avalanche rescue.
There are a lot of things different about the sierra this year, most obviously the amount of snow. But, what matters to avalanches is the quality of that snow.
A back country snowboarder went into a closed area near Sugar Bowl resort recently, causing an avalanche that nearly swept him down the mountain.
He was fine, but also lucky.
There's also another danger, buried deep in the snowpack – a type of snow called 'surface hoar,' which is a fancy name for frost, according to the National Avalanche Center.
A layer of surface hoar fell in January, and will likely remain hidden below the surface until it melts.
The fire district says there are several avalanches a day, many manmade by mountain resorts to lessen the dangers for visitors.