Snoqualmie avalanche

[mtn_mouse]

From the Seattle Times:

 

Search-and-rescue teams are looking for a woman who was buried in an avalanche in the Snow Lake Trail area near Snoqualmie Pass.

King County officials said the incident was reported shortly before noon today by someone using a cell phone. The victim was reportedly on the trail just north of Alpental ski area.

 

Because of the avalanche danger and heavy snow, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has closed Interstate 90 from North Bend to Cle Elum. DOT officials weren't sure when the route would be reopened.

 

The heavy snow and avalanche danger have limited the search effort to highly experienced avalanche patrol units, said Sharon Reig, King County communications center supervisor. At least 13 ski-patrol members and workers with King County Explorer Search and Rescue and Seattle Mountain Rescue, along with two search dogs, are looking for the woman

 

[minx]

i was on the source lake trail about that time today. my partner and i decided not to venture as far as source lake after seeing evidence of very fresh avalanches on the approach trail. fortunately an emergency at home force a quick return for me or we might've changed our minds.

 

we saw several people lingering on the trail near one of the common avalanche shoots which had obviously growing fissures above. BE CAREFUL out there right now.

 

from talking to a few a people it seems the person in question may have been on the N. side of source lake, below chair peak. this is secon hand info though.

[cracked]

[nolanr]

There was an avie death up by Mt. Baker as well yesterday, details in the Times article. Somewhere around Artist Point/Table Mountain.

[catbirdseat]

From the PI

 

[Cpt.Caveman]

It doesnt surprise me the slide happened. Too many people walk down that valley and dont know what is above them.

[cman]

alpinek and i were skiing under chair on thursday and we saw a bunch of snowshoers who were up there and obviously did not have any safety equipment, made me wonder if they had even checked the avy conditions. we also saw a ski and snowboarder who were both solo.

 

seems like with the nice trail and high traffic people do not realize the potential danger.

[Mtguide]

minx said:

i was on the source lake trail about that time today. my partner and i decided not to venture as far as source lake after seeing evidence of very fresh avalanches on the approach trail. fortunately an emergency at home force a quick return for me or we might've changed our minds.

 

we saw several people lingering on the trail near one of the common avalanche shoots which had obviously growing fissures above. BE CAREFUL out there right now.

 

from talking to a few a people it seems the person in question may have been on the N. side of source lake, below chair peak. this is secon hand info though.

 

You guys were smart. Since I first came to the NW in 1965,there have been a number of avalanche deaths in this same area,particularly as the regional population and popularity of outdoor activities has grown.One of the worst I remember was a father and son who died beneath Chair Peak about 6 years ago.This whole area of the Chair Peak/Snow Lake basins has been notorious for avalanche danger for many years,and it always amazes me to see that people still seem to take this area for granted as some kind of harmless winter wonderland playground.In his very first edition of Cascade Alpine Guide(1973 folks!!)in the three-volume format,Fred Beckey says, "Mean annual precipitation ranges from about 120 inches in the Snoqualmie Pass peaks to about 180 inches in the vicinity of Mt. Index.Heavy winter snows accumulate on countless avalanche slopes and slides often spread out to cover flat valleys and meadows with debris.The traveler should be especially wary of avalanches in winter and spring."And in the second edition in '87,he amended this to add, "Mean annual snowfall for Snoqualmie Pass is 398(!) inches;mean annual temperature is 51 degrees."He further adds,"The traveler should be especially wary of avalanche danger after heavy snowfall and during any unstable conditions. "

Anyone who has even the most rudimentary understanding of what snow is,and how it is affected by temperature,should be able to at least get some kind of rough hint from these words,or,to coin an acronym, STHOOTMS!(StayTheHellOutOfTheMountainsStupid!)when it's deep,fresh,and warm.

Also important to remember is that it doesn't take a whole mountainside of snow coming down to kill you; even a little 10 or 15 foot slope will carry more than enough snowload to sweep you off a rimrock ,into a creek, bury your ass upside down in a tree well,or gather enough speed to dislocate limbs or spine,or crack your skull like an eggshell against a rock or tree,not to mention just plain suffocating you.Anyone and everyone planning to venture into the mountains(yes,the Chair Peak group are actually real mountains,boys and girls) in winter should take a Level I avalanche course at the very least,should study terrain and learn to plan travel routes that avoid avalanche areas,and never travel alone or without transceivers and the ability to use them and all other avalanche equipment,anytime you're going into avalanche prone territory.Signs to this effect should be posted at trailheads,just as chain warnings are out on the highway.There are always those who insist on wanting to go solo,and I have no desire to impinge on anyone's personal desires or freedom of choice,but in the case of avalanche conditions and territory,solo backcountry travelers need to at least consider the very great risk they may bring to bear on rescuers, as well as the many tragic instances of family and friends left behind.It's plenty dangerous enough even with a group,but at least then you have a chance.If you travel solo in avalanche areas during unsafe conditions,you'd better have your affairs in order and best of luck.Even with a group,know how to travel so as to avoid exposing more than one person at a time to danger when crossing avalanche-prone terrain.This was the classic mistake made earlier this season with Rudi Beglinger's disaster in B.C.And another guide in the area commented at the time of that accident,remarking on Beglinger's many years of experience and extreme level of expertise,"If it can happen to Rudi,it can happen to anyone."Yes indeedy,be careful,and may you all have a great and safe season and many,many more.

[mtn_mouse]

It's easy to say stay out of the mountains when there may be avalanche danger. But really how many of you do that? I go into the mountains whenever I have the time off, or the weather looks ok, or I have a partner pushing me.

 

I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of avalanches through my years of experience, and courses I have taken. But a lot of that knowledge was obtained by sheer good luck.

 

I remember skiing into the Trinity Alps one winter when I was going to HSU. We skied in during a big storm, as set up camp later that evening. In the morning I got up and looked behing the tent, and a giant avalanche had stopped just yards behind us. I never even heard it during the night. And on the ski out, we had to traversed through two giant avalanche debris paths. I was really lucky that weekend, and learned a lot. Too bad that so many young folks like I was, are venturing into the mountains and learning the lessons tragically.

I agree that anyone going into the mountains in the winter should take an avalanche course no matter the cost or time commitment.

[minx]

weren't so much smart as lucky. the slide happened closer to the TH than i was first told, in a location we had crossed minutes before.

 

the source lake basin/snow lake area are notoriously bad areas for avalanches. like mtn mouse said, many of get to the mountains whenever we can regardless of avalanche danger. this being the case, it would be wise to carefully select WHERE you'll be even if you don't always pick WHEN you'll be in the mountains.

 

my condolences to the familiy of this woman