California, San Jacinto Mountains, Mt. San Jacinto. On 9 February, Jackson Jordan Sr. (47) along with four boy scouts ranging in age from 12 to 16 years, set out to make a winter ascent on Mt. San Jacinto (10,831) in the San Jacinto Mtns. of Southern California. The plan was to backpack to the summit shelter, spend that night there and return to the roadhead on the 10th. At the time of their departure the weather was fairly clear with seemingly good prospects for the weekend.

After the group had been on the trail for some time it became apparent that they would not reach the summit shelter until after dark. In addition the weather had grown steadily worse and snow was falling on a rising wind. To complicate matters Jordan was going poorly, having to stop and rest often. About one mile from the shelter he told the boys to go on ahead and get a fire started in the shelter. After reaching the shelter the boys waited some time and then went out and called to Jordan. They heard a reply which they interpreted as a sign he was on his way and would arrive shortly. He never arrived at the hut. The weather developed into a full blizzard and marooned the boys in the summit shelter from that time until their rescue on 11 February.

When the party failed to return on the night of the 10th preparations were made by the Riverside County Sheriff’s office to search the area as soon as the weather permitted. In the morning on the 11th a helicopter located the boys outside the summit shelter. Survival packs were dropped to them and they were picked up several hours later in Round Valley. It was only after their rescue that it was known that Jordan was still on the mountain. Rescue teams were called from Riverside, Sierra Madre and Altadena and they initiated a ground search the following day. Jordan’s body was located approximately 50 yards from the summit shelter; he was huddled under a rock as if to seek shelter from the weather. The evacuation was carried out by standard mountaineering methods to a point where he could be air-lifted by helicopter to Palm Springs. An autopsy showed Jordan died from freezing.

Source: Robert C. Gardner.

Analysis: Victim inadequately prepared for adverse weather conditions. Victim inexperienced in winter mountaineering techniques.