Avalanche accident, Snoqualmie Pass, 3/29/03

Today's paper reported an injury to a 40-year-old backcountry skier in the vincinity of Snoqualmie Pass yesterday. Anyone know anything?

The avy report yesterday afternoon and today mentioned "An injury avalanche accident occurred on the south side of Granite Mountain Saturday afternoon."

Second-hand accident info:<br><br>It was reported by a local search and rescue volunteer that the accident did occur on Granite Mtn. as reported by the media. Sounds like a solo bc skier (appx 40 y.o.) had yo-yo'd the slope described as the "second chute" at least once or twice and it slid on what may have been the third trip at appx. 11:45 a.m.. Skier slid appx 400-500' and was partially buried but was able to self-extricate. Skier was apparently found by a group of hikers who helped him get to a safer location where help was summoned. Injuries included a broken arm, possible broken ribs and bruises etc. The normal MAST helicopter was unavailable so a helicopter with winch capability was sent from Fairchild in Spokane. Sound like the lift to the chopper was a bit exciting but successful. It was suspected that the skier was taken to Harborview for additional treatment. <br><br>Here's to a quick recovery (and possibly a first-hand report here soon!).

This is abstracted from a Seattle Mountain Rescue mission report:<br>"The subject was skiing down the face of Granite Mountain alone. He was very near the trail right in the bottom of the first avalanche chute when he was hit by a wet slab avalanche from above. The avalanche appeared to of started about 1000 feet above his location and carried him 150 yards down the mountain. He suffered a open right arm fracture, several broken ribs, and had evidence of fluid in his lungs. The avalanche occurred around 11:45 am."