Recent Northwest Avalanche Accident Summaries, 1998-2010
Obtain and Submit an Accident Report Long Form | Short Form
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2009 / 2010 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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| 4/3/2010 | Back country near Mission Ridge Ski Area | Two snowboarders triggered and caught by small slide; two partially buried, 1 injury | Taylor Everett, Mission Ridge Ski Patrol and NWAC |  |
| 3/27/2010 | Back country near Crystal Mtn Ski Area | Victim statment about the 2/28/10 avalanche accident | Mark Callaghan | |
| 3/13/2010 | Mission Ridge ski area--Microwave tower | Skier triggered wind slab caught 2, partially burying one; no injuries reported | Andrew Hyer | |
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2/28/2010 |
Near Threeway Peak, Back country near Crystal Mt, south-central WA Cascades |
Solo skier tirggered and caught by avalanche in BC to south of ski area boundary. Swept through trees and buried to neck. Able to call patrol via cell phone for rescue |
Crystal Mt Professinal Ski Patrol (Ben Wright, Paul Baugher, Chet Mobray) and NWAC |
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1/2/2010 |
Paulina Peak, central OR Cascades |
One solo snowmobiler caught, buried and killed. Found through spot probing by eyewitnesses in the vicinity. |
Trevor Miller (COAA), Three Sisters BackCountry staff and NWAC |
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2008 / 2009 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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3/7/2009 |
Aneroid Basin, Wallowa Mountains, NE Oregon |
Three skiers caught, two totally buried and one partially buried. One skier recovered alive after ~10 minutes, one found dead after ~30 minutes |
Roger Averbeck |
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2/25/2009 |
Hogsback Mtn, south-central WA Cascades |
One skier caught and completely buried under ~2.5 ft of snow. Found by partner's beacon and recovered within about 10 minutes. |
NWAC |
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12/30/2008 |
Rockford, WA |
Resident caught, buried and killed by roof avalanche while shoveling walk and clearing roof |
NWAC |
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12/28/2008 |
Tatie Peak, near Harts Pass, northern WA Cascades |
One snowmobiler caught, buried and killed while high-marking NE exposure slope approximately 6500 ft level |
Larry Goldie, Mark Moore |
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2007/ 2008 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description/Summary
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Submitted By
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Link
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| 2/7/2008 | Kahler Glen, north-central Washington Cascades near Lake Wenatchee, WA | A large natural avalanche released during the late afternoon of February 7, impacting and mostly destroying a home in the Kahler Glen development just above and west of the Kahler Glen Golf Course | Mark Moore--NWAC, Mike & Joanne Stanford and John Meriwether | |
| 1/4/2008 | Lake Twenty-two trail near Mt Pilchuck, north-central WA Cascades | Group of seven young hikers and one adult were descending the Lake Twenty-two trail when four of the party were caught by an avalanche. The slide partially buried one and totally buried three. Two buried victims were quickly found by spot probing and survived; unfortunately the one fatality was buried more deeply near a tree and was not recovered until later by a rescue team. | Mark Moore--NWAC, Oyvind Henningsen and Everett Mountain Rescue | |
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1/1/2008 |
Excelsior Pass below Church Mt,, northern WA Cascades |
Group of five snowmobilers high marking in the Excelsior Pass area triggered a large 5-7 ft deep slab. The avalanche caught five, partly burying one, totally burying and killing two. Victims reportedly found by beacon and probing under three and six feet of snow--one machine was reported reduced to pieces. | Mark Moore--NWAC and Bellingham Mountain Rescue | |
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12/18/2007 |
Edit Ck Basin, Mt Rainier National Park, WA |
Two snowshoers departed on hike to Camp Muir on morning of 12/18/07. Encountering deteriorating weather conditions they turned around, with victim triggering slab near top of Edith Creek Basin. Victim caught and totally buried, found by probing on 12/21, under ~6-10 ft of snow. |
Mt Rainier National Park Chris Morin |
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12/1-2/2007 |
Union Creek, south-central WA Cascades, northeast of Crystal Mt, WA |
Three snowboarders departed on weekend trip on 11/30/2007. Reported missing on 12/2/07. Subsequent searches on ground and air found no evidence of any of the group. Official search abandoned 12/8/07. Final Search and Recovery effort concluded late June, 2008 when the three missing snowboarders were found buried in avalanche debris in Union Creek. |
Paul Baugher & Chris Morin, Crystal Mt Ski Patrol and Mark Moore, NWAC |
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12/2/2007 |
Northway at Crystal Mt Resort, WA |
Two ski patrollers caught, 1 totally buried, 1 mostly buried and able to self extricate--found and rescued partner; south-central Washington Cascades at Crystal Mountain Resort, WA |
Paul Baugher |
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12/2/2007 |
Snow/Source Lake Trail, near Snoqualmie Pass, WA |
Three hikers caught, 1 partly buried, injured & self rescued, 2 completely buried and killed, central Washington Cascades near Snoqualmie Pass, WA. Party was returning from Snow Lake Ridge toward Source Lake when they triggered the avalanche. |
Rob Gibson, Mark Moore |
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2006 / 2007 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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2/25/2007 |
Clark Canyon, Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area, OR |
Two skiers caught, 1 partly buried & self rescued, 1 completely buried and rescued by companions within ~10 minutes, northern Oregon Cascades |
Tighe Stoyanoff, Adam Wagner, Mark Moore |
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2/24/2007 |
Park Place path, west of Crystal Mtn, WA |
One skier caught, buried and killed in Park Place avalanche path, within Mt Rainier National Park just west of Crystal Mountain Ski Area boundary, south-central Washington Cascades |
Paul Baugher, Chet Mowbray, Ben Wright, Mark Moore |
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2005 / 2006 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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4/18/2006 |
Mt Hermann, near Mt Baker ski area |
One skier caught and killed in Stoneman's chute off Mt Hermann in northern Washington Cascades |
Kenny Kramer, Mark Moore, Herb Long, Duncan Howat |
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3/19/2006 |
Tiffany Mt near Conconully,WA |
Two snomobilers caught, one partly buried and injured, one buried and killed--east slopes northern Washington Cascades |
Larry Goldie, Mark Moore |
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1/16/2006 |
Terrible Traverse near Mt Hood |
Three skiers caught and partly buried |
Jim Minick |
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11/08/2005
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OB near Chair 6 at Mt Baker
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One snowboarder caught and totally buried; found alive by beacon after ~15 minutes
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Mark Moore
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11/05/2005
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Table Mountain near Mt Baker
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One snowboarder caught and totally buried; found alive by beacon after ~15 minutes
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Mark Moore, Andy Sahlfeld, Matt Bowen
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2004 / 2005 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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1/12/2005
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Alpental Ski Area
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Two skiers caught and buried/partially buried-- one killed and one self rescued
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Garth Ferber
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10/24/2004
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Mt Rainier--Ingraham Glacier
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Two climbers caught and buried -- one killed and one self rescued
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Glenn Kessler
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2003 / 2004 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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| 6/13/2004 | Mt Rainier--Liberty Ridge | Two climbers caught, buried and killed | Glenn Kessler | |
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4/26/2004
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Mt Baker
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Snowboarder caught and killed in small slide
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NWAC
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3/7/2004
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Crystal Mtn |
Two skiers partially buried -- both dug themselves out
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Corey Meador
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1/31/2004
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Lake Ann
Alpine Lks |
Two snowmobilers completely buried and rescued
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Stephen Carter
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12/172003
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Blewett Pass
Navajo Peak |
One snowmobiler caught, buried and killed
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Mark Moore
Taylor Everett |
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12/13/2003
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Snoqualmie
Pass |
One snowshoer caught, buried and killed. Victim found 12/20/03
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Jon Barker
Paul Schuster |
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12/12/2003
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Mt Baker
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3 completely buried, 2 recovered alive (after ~24 hour burial), 1 fatality
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Garth Ferber
Mark Moore |
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2002 / 2003 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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3/292003
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Granite Mtn
Snoqualmie Pass |
1 skier caught, partly buried, seriously injured
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Garth Ferber
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3/72003
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Mt Hood Meadows
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1 snowboarder caught, completely buried, and recovered alive by beacon within about 20 minutes
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Asa Mueller
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1/12/003
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Golden Gate Tr
Paradise MRNP |
2 snowshoers caught, partially buried and dug out
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Dan Van Cise
MRNP |
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12/29/2002
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Cement Basin
Crystal Mtn Area |
Party of seven caught, three partially buried, one totally buried, Overall one dead, one injured
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Mark Moore
Paul Baugher Dan Hudson |
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2001 / 2002 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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3/102002
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Granite Mtn
Snoqualmie Pass |
2 skiers out; 1 caught and buried; rescued
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John Stimberis
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1/272002
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Gold Creek |
1 snowshoer caught, buried and rescued by own dog
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John Stimberis
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1/242002
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Source Lake |
2 overnight campers caught while in tent, both self-rescued without major injuries
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John Stimberis
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1/202002
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Tunnel Creek
Stevens Pass |
Group of snowboarders caught and carried; one injured and evacuated by others
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Evan Woods
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1/212002
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Skyline Ridge
Stevens Pass |
5 Skiers and snowboarders caught; four partial burials and one complete burial; two injuries
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Shane West
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11/242001
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Paradise
MRNP |
Two boarders, one caught and completely buried; rescued by partner
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Luke Edgar
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2000 / 2001 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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4/112001
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Mt Baker
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One snowmobiler caught, buried and killed
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Brandon Weathermon
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2/172001
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Lake Ann |
One snowmobiler caught, buried and killed
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John Stimberis
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2/172001
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Crystal Mtn
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One out of bounds skier triggered and caught by slide, swept through trees, partially buried and injured—fractured arm (radius) and fractured jaw.
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Chet Mowbray
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2/32001
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Crystal Mtn
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One professional ski patroller caught, swept through trees and partially buried, minor injuries
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Brent Okita
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1/292001
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Twin Lakes
(Stevens Pass) |
Two snowshoers caught, one partially buried, one completely buried, one killed; one buried and presumed dead
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Joanne Stanford
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1/302001
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Alpental Ski Area
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One Professional Patroller caught, totally buried and rescued
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Rob Gibson
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1999 / 2000 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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2/2/2000
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Government Meadows, Central WA Cascades
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Two snowmobilers caught and totally buried. One self recued after 1/2 hour; second rescued after 5 hours with injuries
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NWAC and Doug Blanchard
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1/19/2000 |
Mt Herman, northern WA Cascades |
One skier/photographer caught, partly buried, and recovered by party members. Having sustained serious injuries, victim was airlifted from area by Army rescue helicopter. |
Mark Moore and Josh Evans, Mt Baker Pro Patrol |
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1/16/2000
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East Peak area to east of Crystal Mtn, South Central WA Cascades |
One skier triggered and caught by 2-3 ft slab, partly buried after 1400 ft ride. Ski area employee heard his cries for help and responded, transporting victim part way to base. Subsequent ski area rescue team met injured victim and transported to base.
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Chet Mobray (Crystal Mtn Pro Patrol) and Mark Moore
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1/16/2000
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Crystal Mtn Resort (closed area)
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Two skiers hiked into upper part of closed ski area; one skier triggered and was caught by 2-4 ft slab, swept about 1000 vertical feet and totally buried. Rescue team dispatched by ski resort; victim (no beacon) was found by dogs after ~ two hours, pronounced dead at the scene.
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Paul Baugher (Crystal Mtn Pro Patrol Director) and Mark Moore
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1998/ 1999 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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2/14/1999
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Shuksan Arm near Mt Baker Ski Area, Northern WA Cascades
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One snowboarder and one skier caught, buried and killed by large 12-15 ft slab in Rumble Gulley, just east of the Mt Baker Ski Area within the Shuksan Arm Wilderness
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Brandon Weathermon (Mt Baker Pro Patrol Director) and Mark Moore, NWAC
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1998-99 Accident Summary |
Northwest US |
Accident Summaries for 1998-99 NW avalanche incidents |
Mark Moore, NWAC |
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1997/ 1998 Accident Summaries
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Date
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Location
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Incident Description
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Submitted By
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Link
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1/18/1998 |
Lion Rock near Blewett Pass, central WA Cascades |
One snowmobiler caught, buried and killed. Snowmobiler got stuck while highmarking on steep slope near Lion Rock. While attempting to turn his machine around, slope released above him, catching him and his machine, carrying them about 500 vertical ft and burying them under 2-3 feet of snow. Victim located following day through coarse probing |
Mark Moore, NWAC |
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5/31/1998 |
Mt Hood, OR |
Three climbers on the West Crater Rim Route on the south side of Mt Hood were caught by slide and swept about 1000 vertical ft. Two of the climbers were partially buried and seriously injured, one was totally buried and subsequently found dead by coarse probing under about 4.5 ft of snow.. |
Glenn Kessler, USFS Climbing Ranger and NWAC |
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