On March 31st, 1982, a titanic avalanche swept down into the Alpine Meadows, California popular ski area, killing seven people and causing millions of dollars in damage to resort facilities. The resort is classified within the ski industry as one of North America’s few “A” level avalanche areas. It annually records the largest number of avalanches of any ski resort in the United States.
No avalanche of that magnitude, nothing even close to that size, had ever occurred on that slope before. And therein lies the bleak and bitter truth about avalanches: They are wildly capricious killers. They stand among nature’s most volatile, most deadly creations. The natural forces generated within an avalanche are among the most stupendous on earth.
The wildly fluctuating densities of mass, strange hydraulic imbalances, weird increases in speed, massive changes in air pressure, heat wrought of friction within the mass, enormously high levels of specific gravity. The destructive power of a truly monstrous avalanche is almost beyond imagination.
No tornado or hurricane ever produced more punishment to human life or property than a major avalanche. There is nothing in nature—with the exceptions of major volcanoes, earthquakes and gargantuan flash floods and tidal waves that can surpass the destructive potential of a monstrous avalanche.
Obviously, the destruction in the path of such a force can be far worse than even that caused by the avalanche itself. Huge trees are leveled, buildings actually explode, and bodies have been found, crushed and broken, hanging from trees well ahead of the point where the sliding mass actually stopped.
On March 31, 1982, at approximately 3:45 p.m., a series of massive avalanches released a 3,200-foot ocean of snow along the Poma Rocks, Buttress, and Don’s Nose terrain, a steep area high above the northeastern portion of Alpine.
A Kong-sized mass swept destructively down some 800 feet, snapping 100-year-elder growth trees like toothpicks. Unchecked, the avalanche hit the resort’s lower Summit Chair, terminal building.
The torrent of destruction continued its path critically damaging two other lifts, several parked snowcats, and an array of structures, including the main lodge, before finally running out into the parking lot and onto the canyon road. The Summit lift, building frame completely crumbled. Seven people were in the building at the time.
In this new Insider Exclusive “Justice in America” Network TV Special, our investigating team is on location in San Francisco, with Skip Walker, Managing Partner at Walker, Hamilton, & Kearns, LLP. Skip represented the victims in a four-and-a-half-month jury trial and the jury was out for two and a half weeks. The case was ultimately settled on appeal.
What the owners of Alpine Meadows knew, and what they did not tell the public, was that the resort had been built in an avalanche zone. What has never been determined to this day is why the mountain manager’s office was built right in the middle of a discernible avalanche path.
Even after extensive avalanche controls were actually carried out on March 31, no signs or barriers were posted. People in the nearby rental units were experiencing cabin fever after having been snowed in for as many as five days.
Using one of the nation’s foremost avalanche experts, plaintiffs established that there was indeed a recognizable avalanche danger that Alpine had never disclosed to the public. They knew that this avalanche would happen, but never told the public to stay out of the danger zone.
Skip has earned a reputation as an unyielding trial lawyer who repeatedly represents individuals and families. And repeatedly wins. He has earned the highest respect from citizens and lawyers alike…. as one of the best Trial lawyers in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay area and throughout California. He’s built a substantial reputation by consistently winning cases other law firms have turned down, Because he believes to his core that “someone who has been harmed is someone who should be helped.”
And because of that belief, and his amazing courtroom skills and headline grabbing success rate, he continues to provide his law firm clients with the results they need……And the results they deserve.
You can reach Skip Walker at https://whk-law.com/attorney/walter-walker/ and 415 986 3339