Posted on 02/19/2012 3:25:57 PM PST by jazusamo
Three people are dead in an avalanche just outside the Stevens Pass ski resort, and a snowboarder was killed in another avalanche in an out-of-bounds area in the Alpental Valley at Snoqualmie Pass, authorities said.
Earlier Sunday, the King County Sheriff’s Office said two were dead and as many as eight were missing in the Stevens Pass avalanche, but later changed the death toll from two to three. KING-TV reported that the individuals who had been unaccounted for in that avalanche have since been accounted for.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.seattletimes.com ...
Trying to get names. I know people who go to that area. I’ve hiked it in the summer so I understand what the terrain is like.
I’m not a skier. Are the out-of-bounds areas marked off clearly so people know they’re not supposed to be in them?
I heard the snowboarder was killed when he went off a cliff at Alpental, not by an avalanche.
At some areas there is the “Out-of-Bounds” areas where they’ll pull your ticket, etc. because it is dangerous and illegal. Some places are out of the main ski area but are allowed, backcountry skiing. No idea what the case is at Stevens Pass. Every year it happens though. Or a skier gets lost, etc.
Thanks, I was just curious.
Oh - and everywhere I have ever been they are clearly marked by a rope “fence” and signs. The danger areas are often heavily roped, and the back country areas have at least one rope that you had to duck under. Or it is so heavily wooded that is is pretty obvious you are off the trail.
I’ve skied there as well as Stevens Pass. And yes, the areas are marked but avalanches don’t read tapes.
Friday and Saturday this area was getting hit with a pretty decent storm and a lot of snow. I was up at Baker and a lot of the extreme terrain was closed for avalanche control. They were setting off charges to bring the dangerous stuff down.
I skied at Stevens Pass for many years. Out-of-bounds signs are clearly posted.
Thanks for the first hand report. I read other articles that had warned of possible avalanches because of a lot of new snow and the warmer temps.
In Chicago, if a bike rider is killed in an accident, they erect a Ghost Bike at the site. It’s nothing more than an old bike painted completely white and adorned with flowers. It’s simply there to honor the spirit of the deceased bike rider. They should do the same for skiers and snowboarders who unfortunately perish while enjoying their winter endeavors. Since it’s cold, they can stand the body up, let it freeze and have a true monument honoring their death and sacrifice. On the black diamond runs, it can even serve as an obstacle of sorts. I realize the warmer months present a bit of a quandary, but that’s for greater minds than mine to solve.
thats a nice tradition.
RIP.
Bump to check later.
Maybe they could use that acrylic resin stuff you see bugs in.
Be like a combo monolith to stupidity and scarecrow.
i think the snow missed ya, in central TENN. Yes?
It came down heavily on Sunday morning, but it melted the second it hit the ground. Our temps have been plain too warm to sustain any accumulation (and we are expected to hit above 70 mid-week). Gotta feel sorry for public school students, seeing all that snow and realizing it won’t get them a day off (unlike in the north, a light dusting can get school cancelled).
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