Snowboarders from Orange County and San Diego pose after the mountain was shut down following a major avalanche on Saturday that broke loose on the Climax ski run at Mammoth Mountain. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

After nearly five feet of snow fell, a road to condos near Canyon Lodge is cleared on Saturday, March 3 in Mammoth Lakes. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Snow covers condos near Canyon Lodge on Saturday, March 3 in Mammoth Lakes. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Canyon Lodge shut down after and avalanche closed Mammoth Mountain on Saturday, March 3. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Skiers and snowboarders ride the Thunder Bound Express, left, and the Panorama Gondola up the mountain at Mammoth Mountain ski area in Mammoth Lakes as snow-making machines fill the air with snow early one morning in December 2013. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Ronan Collins of Newport Beach stands at the bottom of the mountain after the mountain was shut down following a major avalanche on Saturday, March 3 that broke loose on the Climax ski run at Mammoth Mountain. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Minarets in the Ansel Adams Wilderness are a prominent feature as skiers ride a lift at the Mammoth Mountain ski area in Mammoth Lakes in December 2013. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Skiers take photographs by the signs at the summit of Mammoth Mountain — at 11,053 feet — after getting off the Panorama Gondola in February 2013. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Snow covers condos near Canyon Lodge on Saturday, March 3 in Mammoth Lakes. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As the snow-covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada tower in the background, skiers exit the Stump Alley Express lift in this view from the Panorama Gondola at Mammoth Mountain in February 2013. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A skier gets some air off a jump as the Panorama Gondola makes its way up the mountain at Mammoth Mountain ski area in Mammoth Lakes in December 2013. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Fracture line over the Climax ski run at Mammoth Mountain one day after avalanche that occurred on March 3. The fracture occurred above the ski run and along the rock cliff band. The run was still closed on Wednesday, March 7. Debris from the ski run traveled along Upper Dry Creek to the left side of the photo and down to High Five Express (Chair 5), both not visible in this photo. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A snowboarder rides at the base of the Climax ski run on Tuesday, March. 6. The avalanche on Saturday, March, 3, came down the Climax run, across the area where the snowboarder is riding and into Upper Dry Creek. (Photo by Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The avalanche over the Climax ski run on March 3, didn’t stop skiers and boarders from enjoying the resort on Sunday, March 4. The ski racks were full at Canyon Lodge. (Photo by Erika Ritchie/Orange County Register/SCNG)

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN – A major avalanche caused the closure of all lifts on Mammoth Mountain on Saturday, March 3, and eight people were able to climb out of the snowfield.

At about 10:15 a.m., ski patrol was performing avalanche control mitigation in a closed area when the avalanche broke loose on the Climax ski run and traveled down Upper Dry Creek, ending at High Five Express (Chair 5).

A powder cloud extended about 330 feet into an area open to the public, where two guests were partially caught, Mammoth Mountain officials said.

“Both were able to immediately free themselves without serious injury. Additionally, six employees working at the bottom of the closed lift (High Five Express) were partially caught, but freed themselves quickly, suffering only minor injuries,” resort spokeswoman Lauren Burke said.

“Ski Patrol was on scene with initial rescue efforts within moments, and search operations began immediately,” Burke said.

The mountain northeast of Fresno — a five-hour drive from the Los Angeles area — was closed and the search continued for six hours. The search included the use of transceivers, RECCO (detectors that send a search signal), avalanche rescue dogs and a manual probe search — all with no one found.

About 200 employees, first responders and guests helped in the search.

Multiple agencies and resources responded as the mountain launched its avalanche protocol.

All lifts stopped abruptly as first responders headed to the ski resort. Vouchers were made available for lift-ticket holders to be used in the future.

A snowstorm starting on Thursday had dumped four feet at the base and nearly eight feet at the summit.

“We were in line and they shut down the lift,” said Talin Yepremian, 35, of Santa Barbara. “As someone not that skilled with these conditions today, it frightens me that it could have been me. It’s reassuring the response they had was so quick.”

For Ronan Collins, 13, of Newport Beach, the avalanche was a first. Growing up in Truckee, he began skiing and boarding when he was 2. Despite his skill, Saturday’s incident left him a bit scared about what could happen Sunday.

“You could get trapped and freeze to death,” he said. “I’m going to be more careful tomorrow and stay close to my dad.”

Jason Gerard, 36, of San Diego said he was on Chair 10 heading toward Chair 5, which was closed. He and his friend, Sven Gierlichs, 42, of San Diego, decided to take Chair 10 again to wait for Chair 5 to open.

“When we came down lower Spook (the ski run adjacent to the site of the avalanche), we saw a bunch of sleds and snowmobiles,” he said. “The liftees were screaming at us to stay away and take another run. ”

Gierlichs, who grew up in Germany and has snowboarded for more than 20 years throughout the Alps, thought he heard the avalanche when it broke.

“There was just this rumbling noise,” he said. “It sounded like ski patrol was doing it on purpose. It wouldn’t have crossed my mind that it was not on purpose.”

“When I’m at a resort, it never occurs to me that I could end up in an avalanche,” said Gerard, a software engineer. “I’ve ridden slack (out of bounds) and always carry an avalanche beacon.

“They don’t know who’s under the snow,” he added. “I’m glad about how much response they had. It seems like they put everyone on it.”

Emily Hurst, 33, of Redondo Beach, was at Main Lodge when mountain officials announced the closure and avalanche. She was lucky to catch the first bus out.

“People were storming the buses,” she recalled. A few hours later, she was back in line at Canyon Lodge, buying a pass for Sunday.

She’s skied for 20 years, she said, but “This was my first evacuation on a mountain.”

1/2 At approximately 10:15AM on March 3, 2018, Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol was performing avalanche hazard mitigation work when an avalanche released on the upper part of the mountain traveling towards the High Five Express [Chair 5] area. All rescue measures are in place and… — MammothMountain (@MammothMountain) March 3, 2018