Snowmobiler caught in avalanche and killed near Washington mountain, group says
Two snowmobilers were riding near a Washington mountain when they were caught in an avalanche that killed one of them, a nonprofit said.
One rider was “fully buried” after the two triggered an avalanche Friday, March 1, near Darland Mountain in Yakima County, the Northwest Avalanche Center said in a Facebook post.
The rider died in the incident, the group said.
The snowmobilers “triggered a slide in a generally east-facing bowl” at about 6,600 feet, the nonprofit said.
“While we don’t know for sure, this avalanche likely failed on older persistent weak layers in the snowpack,” the group said.
The group reminded others to check the forecast before venturing out into snowy areas.
The center gathered more information at the avalanche site on March 2.
A snowmobiler was also killed in an avalanche on the same day in the southern Selkirk Mountains in the Idaho panhandle region, McClatchy News reported.
What to know about avalanches
Avalanches happen quickly and catch people by surprise. They can move between 60 and 80 mph and typically happen on slopes of 30-45 degrees, according to experts.
Skiers, snowmobilers and hikers can set off an avalanche when a layer of snow collapses and starts to slide down the slope.
In the U.S., avalanches are most common from December to April, but they can happen at any time if the conditions are right, National Geographic reported.
At least 10 people in the U.S. have died in avalanches this season as of March 4, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
People heading into snow should always check the local avalanche forecast at Avalanche.org, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, and have an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel ready.
“Emergency services are usually too far away from the scene of an avalanche, and time is important,” Simon Trautman, a national avalanche specialist, said. “A person trapped under the snow may not have more than 20 or 30 minutes. So, in a backcountry scenario, you are your own rescue party.”
If an avalanche breaks out, it’s best to move diagonal to the avalanche to an edge, Trautman said.
“Try to orient your feet downhill so that your lower body, not your head, takes most of the impact,” officials said. “You may also get into a tight ball as another way to protect your head.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2024 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Snowmobiler caught in avalanche and killed near Washington mountain, group says."
