I am not sure if this was partly responsible for the crash, but on that night there were large fires raging in the Sierra. I believe the Owens valley was full of smoke. I was driving down from Horseshoe Meadows that night (completing a vehicle shuttle after backpack) and it was difficult to see the road. I will never forget hearing the news of the crash (Galen and Barbara Rowel) as we descended into the valley.
