Washington Avalanche Kills 3 Mountain Climbers
Three mountain climbers were killed in an avalanche on Colchuck Peak in Leavenworth on Sunday, making it the worst snow slide in the United States this winter and the worst in Washington in several years.
The Washington avalanche was created by the lead climber of six people ascending a couloir on the summit, which is located near its namesake lake, a famous Enchantments hiking destination, according to Sgt. Jason Reinfeld of the Chelan County Sheriff's Office.
Four mountain climbers were hurt when a slab broke free. They were swept down the steep, narrow gully for around 500 feet.
Two of them died instantly from the effects of the avalanche trauma, and the third perished not long after, the authorities suspect.
Meanwhile, the fourth victim of the slide suffered knee and ankle injuries, The Seattle Times reported.
The Washington avalanche claimed the lives of a Connecticut man, 53; a New York woman, 60; and a New Jersey man, 66. The New York guy, 56, made it through the slide.
Following the avalanche, the New York guy and the other two climbers were able to descend about a thousand feet to their campsite near Colchuck Lake, according to Reinfeld.
A seventh group member, who had opted to stay at camp rather than try the climb, trekked out 5 kilometers in deep snow and called authorities for help Monday morning around 8.
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Rescuers Failed to Retrieve the Bodies of Mountain Climbers Killed by Washington Avalanche
When the deputies got the complaint, a search and rescue coordinator began assembling resources.
Twenty-two rescue workers showed up at the trailhead to help, according to KIRO 7.
Some groups were from Yakima Mountain Rescue, Tacoma Mountain Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, and Chelan County Mounty Rescue.
To CCVSAR ORV unit helped a team of four rescue workers to get to the lake from Chelan County Mountain Rescue and reached the camp by 1:30 in the afternoon. However, the Washington avalanche conditions were too risky, so they returned without getting the climbers who had perished. The remaining hikers were safely guided back to the starting point.
Due to unsafe conditions, rescuers were not deployed back to the location. The CCSO has continued collaborating with the Northwest Avalanche Center on a strategy for recovery.
The Same Fatal Washington Avalanche Happened 11 Years Ago
A Washington avalanche that killed three expert skiers in Washington in 2012 happened on the same day, Sunday, February 19.
Only a short hike from the resort boundary, a massive avalanche swept out Freeskiing World Tour head judge Jim Jack, 46, Stevens Pass marketing director Chris Rudolph, 30, and Leavenworth contractor Johnny Brenan, 41.
About noon, a group of 15 skiers headed out of the resort, including the three of them, said Powder.
Twelve skiers, including Powder Senior Editor John Stifter and photographer Keith Carlsen, were involved in the mishap directly, while the remaining three skiers formed their group.
Rudolph, Brenan, pro skier Elyse Saugstad, and three other skiers safely traversed the upper bowl and made their way to a place in the forests where they felt comfortable, Stifter said.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Washington avalanche: 3 believed dead after snowslide near Leavenworth - From FOX 13 Seattle
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