Members from the California Army and Air National Guard were called on this week to clear snow from the eastern Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes, California, nestled against Mammoth Mountain, reports the Los Angeles Times.
At an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet, the town of 8,200 people faced 44 feet of snow this winter. Mono County, which includes Mammoth Lakes, and the town declared a state of emergency due to the piles of snow that lined homes and streets. The request for snow removal assistance was then sent on to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), which then called in the California National Guard.
Capt. Will Martin, deputy director of public affairs for the Guard, told the L.A. Times that snow emergencies usually involve search and rescue, and that crews are far more familiar with fire emergencies than snow.
"No one can recall the last time they were called in for something like this," Martin said. "The locals were very appreciative," he added.
The five day operation involved 17 members from the Guard.
Ten heavy trucks made the trek to Mammoth Lakes, including several Army M1157 10-ton dump trucks and one M984A4 HEMTT 10-ton tactical wrecker.
The snowplows in the mountain-side ski community struggled to keep up with the seemingly constant snowfall. Crews were making up to $100 an hour in an effort to clear snow and keep businesses open. More than 20 ski lifts and gondolas rise out of the resort town up Mammoth Mountain, with open roadways and business key to the tourism-based economy.
The town created a "snow pit" north of California State Route 203 for the extra snow, but it just kept coming.
The season total of 533 inches, is one-third above average, but is still more than 10 feet short of the 668-inch record set in the winter of 2010-11.
