Tahoe couple injured in avalanche while climbing in Inyo County, sheriff’s office says

A Tahoe man and woman were caught in an avalanche early Thursday while rock climbing in the Onion Valley area, about 120 miles east of Fresno, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

They set out at 9:30 a.m. to climb and then ski a prominent canyon on the northeast side of Independence Peak, near the Kearsarge trailhead, sheriff’s officials said. After several hours, the man and woman heard and then saw the oncoming avalanche and both were caught in the moving snow.

“The male skier was able to grab some rocks until the snow passed, while the female was carried out of sight down the canyon,” according to the release.

After it passed, the man was able to find his partner, but her injuries were too severe to be carried out.

At 11 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office was notified of the avalanche. Inyo County Sheriff Jeff Hollowell and deputies were first to arrive on scene. They provided first aid to the couple until the county search-and-rescue team arrived.

“CHP Central Division Air Operations inserted one Inyo SAR member to the location, and the patient was hoisted by helicopter and flown to Southern Inyo Hospital for treatment,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

They are expected to recover, but sheriff’s officials ask that the public follow the state’s stay-at-home order and not attempt risky outdoor activities.

“If you get sick, lost or injured and require SAR assistance, the responding team of volunteers will have to break social distancing and State mandated Stay at Home Order by sharing rescue equipment, radios, and vehicles,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “You will be potentially taking those rescuers out of service for weeks due to post-mission quarantine protocols.”