Deer are creatures of habit and were following their usual descent routes over the Eastern Sierra passes, and fell on steep, iced-up snow slopes into the boulder fields. So far this year (as of 11/20/2007), at least 120 dead deer, killed in this way, have been located. Apparently, this was not an unusual occurrence, and has happened after other heavy snow years. Compared with the thousands of deer that safely make their migration, this is a relatively small number of deaths, but still tragic.
If even sure-footed deer die descending steep snow and ice, what about humans? It's ought to be a reminder to all of us to use caution on Whitney and elsewhere in the mountains.
Last edited by Bob West; 11/21/17 08:12 AM.