Pertinent Weather & Snowpack

A 1 to 1.2-meter deep slab of progressively denser (4f to 1f) snow rested on top of old, weak snow (4f facets). These facets served as the failure layer for this fatal avalanche. Tests today (Feb 18 - the day after the avalanche) showed that it may be getting more difficult to get force through the slab to the weak layer. Those tests also showed that if the force does get down to the weak layer, it can break, and the resulting fracture can still propagate along the weak layer.

Accident Summary On the afternoon of February 17, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, a 46-year-old male skier (Skier 1) triggered a persistent slab avalanche while skiing alone on Powderhouse Peak near Luther Pass, CA. Skier 1 wore an airbag pack, transceiver, and helmet. He also carried a shovel and probe. When the skier decided to descend into the NE Bowl on Powderhouse Peak, he was likely the fourth person to do so. The newest track, likely belonging to skier 1, traversed across the top of the slope more to the east in what appeared to be an attempted ski cut. At the end of the ski cut, the track turned downhill and disappeared over the crown of the avalanche. The other three tracks, two made by snowboards and one by skis, were clustered together and entered the bowl approximately 12 meters (40 feet) west of skier 1. These tracks appeared older, but still recent. They also disappeared over the crown of the avalanche.

The avalanche caught skier 1 and carried him downslope over rocks and through trees. When the avalanche stopped about 200 meters (650 feet) downhill from where it started, skier 1 was buried on the uphill side of a tree, 1.4 meters (4.5 feet) deep in avalanche debris. His helmet showed severe damage, and he had other significant signs of trauma. Skier 1’s airbag trigger was still zipped up inside the shoulder strap of his pack, and his airbag was not deployed. Skier 1 did not survive.

Skier 1 was reported missing around 4:30 pm, and some of his friends went to Powderhouse Peak to search for him. They saw the avalanche crown and ascended to the toe of the avalanche debris before dark. They initiated a transceiver search, located the position of skier 1, and dug skier 1’s body out of the avalanche debris.

By the time skier 1’s friends finished digging his body out of the debris, night had fallen. Due to the hazard presented by the portion of the slope above them that had not avalanched and the onset of darkness, the group of skier 1’s friends exited the avalanche runout zone. They left skier 1’s body where it had been uncovered. They left his transceiver on in SEND mode. Members of the El Dorado County Search and Rescue team accompanied them back to the parking area.

The following day, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office mobilized the SAR team, deputies, and a helicopter to recover skier 1’s body. Forecasters from the Sierra Avalanche Center assisted with onsite snowpack assessment. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office enlisted the help of the Caltrans Echo Summit Avalanche Control Team who used explosives to mitigate the remaining avalanche hazard lingering above the victim's location. The SAR team then entered the debris field and worked with the helicopter to extract the body of skier 1.

The avalanche consisted of two crowns connected by a persistent weak layer of facets under a dense 1 to 1.2-meter-deep slab (see pit profile and photos for details). It appeared that shooting cracks extended across the slightly lower-angle terrain between the two crowns. The avalanche started on a NE aspect at about 2780 meters (9120 feet). It ran downhill for about 200 meters (650 feet) through trees and over rocks. The slope angle in the starting zone ranged from 38 to 40°. A similar avalanche occurred in this bowl in March of 2020. The NE Bowl of Powderhouse holds complex terrain with several potential start zones that converge into the runout zone of the bowl. The bowl also has numerous trees and rocks that can magnify the consequences of an avalanche.

Thank you to all the entities whose efforts resulted in a safe and successful recovery: El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputies and Pilots, El Dorado County Search and Rescue Team, and Caltrans Echo Summit Avalanche Control Team.

Our condolences go out to the victim's family and friends and all those affected by this tragic accident.