*************************************** Deaths at Mammoth Mountain, California *************************************** From: Grant Kaye <gdk21@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> I wasn't sure if the members of the list have already been made aware of the recent tragic deaths of three ski patrollers at Mammoth Mountain in California. This was posted on the Mammoth Mountain website by the CEO of the ski area: April 7, 2006 Contact: Rusty Gregory, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area CEO 760.934.0645 Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, CA -- At approximately 11:29am yesterday, Thursday, April 6, 2006, four experienced Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrollers were inspecting the mountain after recent heavy snowstorms. The patrollers were fencing off a natural hazard, a deep gas vent, on Christmas Bowl run, east of Chair 3 when the snow around the vent collapsed. Two patrollers, John McAndrews and James Juarez, fell into the approximately 6-ft hole, down 21 feet of snow to the earth. Two patrollers attempting to help, Walter Rosenthal and Jeff Bridges, descended into the hole. Members of Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol working nearby quickly initiated additional rescue efforts and were assisted by the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department and Mono County Paramedics. The victims were immediately transported to Mammoth Hospital. Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller Jeff Bridges survived and Rosenthal, McAndrews and Juarez perished as a result of the accident. Additional employees who assisted in the rescue were transported to Mammoth Hospital for observation. A total of seven were admitted and six were kept overnight including Bridges. All are expected to be released by mid-morning today. The cause of death has not yet been determined by the Mono County Sheriff's Department but is possibly due to oxygen deprivation and/or being overcome by toxic gases. The information will be released pending autopsies and toxicological results. Victims: James Juarez, 35, a five-year veteran of Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol originally from Granada Hills, California. John "Scott" McAndrews, 37, a Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller for one year from Bishop, California. Charles Walter Rosenthal, 58, of Sunny Slopes, California a veteran of Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol since 1972 *********** For those nearby to Los Angeles or Mammoth, a benefit concert evening will be held simultaneously four to six weeks from now at the Viper Room in Hollywood and at a venue T.B.A. in the village at Mammoth Mountain. Please check http://www.viperroom.com for details (from Mike Wilson, GM of the Viper Room). Grant Kaye ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
