Near Lee Vining in Mono County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Avalanche of 1911

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 24, 2011

1. Avalanche of 1911 Marker

Inscription. Not far from this site, in the early morning hours of March 7, 1911, a massive avalanche roared down the east slope of Copper Mountain and wiped out the town of Jordan. Eight people were killed including Robert Mason, the chief engineer of the power plant. Only his wife and dog survived.

This snow slide was the worst of several occurring in and around Mono County during the winter of 1910-11. Rescuers coming from Bodie and Lee Vining were forced to travel by snowshoes or skis as all roads were impassable. Additionally, contact with other communities was severed as all telephone lines were down. It took several days to locate and identify all the victims. Most were later buried in a nearby cemetery.

This event was also the death knell for a town slowly recovering from a financial disaster (closure of the local mines, businesses and post office in 1903). Today remnants of foundations, miscellaneous debris and 8 headstones stand as silent reminders of one of the most devastating events in Mono County history.

Erected 2011 by E Clampus Vitus, Bodie Chapter No. 64.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 7, 1877.

Location. 38°

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2.956′ N, 119° 9.848′ W. Marker is near Lee Vining, California, in Mono County. Marker is at the intersection of Mill Creek Powerhouse Road and California Highway 395 on Mill Creek Powerhouse Road. Mill Creek Powerhouse Road is just north of California Highway 167 on Highway 395. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lee Vining CA 93541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mono Diggins (approx. 1.8 miles away); Grave of Adeline Carson Stilts (approx. 2.8 miles away); From Scrubland to Ranchland (approx. 3.7 miles away); The De Chamber Family (approx. 3.7 miles away); De Chambeau Ranch (approx. 3.8 miles away); Lundy (approx. 4.4 miles away); Sheriff James P. Dolan (approx. 5.3 miles away); Upside-Down House (approx. 6.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lee Vining.

Also see . . . The Ghost Town of Lundy. Includes 2 pictures of the location of the town of Jordan wiped out by the avalanche of 1911, and pictures of the cemetery where the victims wee buried in 1911. (Submitted on September 10, 2012, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California.)

Additional keywords. Jordan Creek Avalanche

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 24, 2011

2. Avalanche of 1911 Marker

Avalanche Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 24, 2011

3. Avalanche Cemetery

The white fence, lower right, marks the cemetery of the victims of the 1911 avalanche.

China from 1911 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, September 15, 2013

4. China from 1911

Bodie Chapter No. 64 embedded a "piece of fine China" from the 1911 avalanche in the marker base.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,877 times since then and 48 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week March 3, 2019. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 1, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.