"On their way back from Castle Peak, the group was caught in a large avalanche. When the snow settled, Chris Scott Thomason, of Bend, OR, had disappeared. His friends quickly started searching using their beacons and managed to dig Thomason out, according to the Sheriff's Office. But avalanche snow, which can start out loose and fluffy, consolidates quickly, hardening like concrete."
"Anyone trapped with their head under the surface is likely going to be starved for oxygen, so the clock was ticking. After Thomason's friends freed him, they immediately started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. While they were working to revive their friend, another group showed up that included an off-duty Truckee fire department medic who, "immediately began leading emergency efforts and CPR," according to the Sheriff's department. Despite all of the safety precautions, and the presence of people well-trained in CPR to assist, Thomason did not survive."
The group set out from Johnson Canyon on Donner Pass and rode to Castle Peak. Atmospheric river storms since Christmas produced heavy snowfall, with up to six feet on nearby summits. Each rider wore an avalanche beacon/transceiver to emit signals for locating buried companions. On the return trip the group was caught in a large avalanche that buried Chris Scott Thomason of Bend, OR. Friends used their beacons to locate and dig him out, then began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An off-duty Truckee fire department medic assisted emergency efforts. Thomason did not survive. Another snowmobiler was badly injured in a December 27 avalanche at Latopie Lake.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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