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Approximately 200 miles north of Los Angeles, 25 year-old Michael David Meyers was involved in an avalanche that ultimately took his life reports the LA Times. The grad student from UCLA was on a solo expedition in the John Muir wilderness when the accident occurred. He was last heard from on November 5th, when he texted his roommate about plans to hike to Mt. Russell in the Inyo National Forest.
Meyers is the first avalanche fatality for the 2015/2016 winter season.
Search and rescue teams found his body this Saturday underneath a 60-70 foot long avalanche deposition zone. He had suffered severe trauma during the incident, which included multiple broken bones.
“It’s like being in a head-on accident at 100 mph”– William Lutze (Inyo County Sheriff)
During his expedition, the region was bombarded with hazardous weather, including 100mph winds and heavy snowfall.
The search for Meyers began on November 18th after a local spotted his vehicle parked beneath trees on a snowy road. On Friday, volunteers uncovered what they believed to be his beanie and helmet. The following day, search and rescue personnel used sonar equipment to locate his body underneath the avalanche debris.
A native Minnesotan, Meyers was studying physics at UCLA at the time of his death.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and the UCLA community.
Read the entire LA Times article here: UCLA grad student killed in avalanche in California wilderness
