1949 snowstorm left family stranded on Box Springs Mountain – Press Enterprise

Back in January 1949, Southern California experienced quite the cold snap, accompanied by rain. Of course, rain becomes snow at higher elevations, and that is just what blanketed the top of Box Springs Mountain almost 75 years ago. Snow began falling just after midnight on Jan. 10 and people all over Southern California woke up to a world of white. Snow began falling again around noon. Even more snow fell between 4 and 6 a.m. Jan. 11.

At the top of Box Springs Mountain sat several radio communication towers used by the Sheriff’s Department, Civil Air Patrol, and the State Forestry Division. To keep those towers operating, there was also a house by the towers for the person in charge of maintaining them.

In 1949, the resident technician was Myron Robertson. He lived in the house at the top of the mountain with his wife and 2-year-old daughter. The Robertsons had to bring their drinking water and all their supplies from Riverside.

When the storm hit, it is doubtful that anyone, including the Robertsons, thought the snow would last long. While snow does occasionally dust the top of Box Springs Mountain, at 3,300 foot elevation, it rarely lasts. However, while the snow may have stopped falling, cold weather persisted, helping the snow hang on at higher elevations, including Box Springs Mountain. This made it impossible for the Robertson family to make a trip to Riverside to get water and food. Several days into the situation, sheriff’s deputies decided to try to reach the house but the road was so perilous they had to stop and walk the rest of the way.

By Jan. 19 the situation had become concerning, that day the Robertsons ran out of water and their food was almost gone. Another concern was the fact that the Citizen Air Patrol tower had stopped working due to a lack of spare parts.

A call was put in to March Air Base and one of their rescue helicopters was called to help. Robertson was notified that the helicopter was on its way, with reporter Garland Griffin from the Riverside Daily Press on board to witness the event.

Pilot Lt. Edward Frost got as close to the house as possible given the radio towers and their wire struts. Water cans and radio parts were dropped by parachute. According to Griffin, there hadn’t been time to prepare a food drop because it was raining hard and fog was quickly closing in. Garland estimated that the snow was six inches deep on Box Springs Mountain and had drifts up to two feet deep.