Avalanche
An avalanche near Harts Pass, Washington, killed a snowmobiler and injured another yesterday, Friday, February 28, reports the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC). The incident occurred northwest of Mazama, where three snowmobilers triggered a large slab avalanche.
Two riders were caught in the slide, leaving one fully buried and another partially buried. The third rider escaped unharmed.
The Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) is investigating the circumstances with local avalanche experts. This tragedy follows a recent incident in the same area where a snowmobiler was buried but successfully rescued by their group.
The forecast for the zone at the time was rated moderate, 2 out of 5 on the danger scale.
“While the likelihood of avalanches is slightly lower, the complex, overlapping problems will require conservative terrain selection. Avoid steep, northern terrain where deep, widely propagating avalanches are possible. If the snow is wet, move to lower-angle terrain, and avoid lingering beneath cornices or rocks that should shed slabs of snow.”
– NWAC forecast for February 28, 2025
The fatality is the 15th avalanche-related death in the US this winter and the first in Washington. The previous two weeks have seen seven deaths across the western US.
Avalanche experts stress the importance of proper training, equipment, and awareness of current conditions for those venturing into avalanche-prone terrain. They advise checking local avalanche forecasts and carrying essential safety gear, including transceivers, probes, and shovels.
