Avalanches Kill 3 at Stevens Pass, 1 at Alpental

Very sad news indeed. Prayers and thoughts out to the victim's friends and families....rest in peace.

Besides your own observations you could check the smart phone for updates but unlikely once you are in the field that this is going to happen. Maybe a NWAC newsflash if you sign up for WARNINGs and it texts to your phone might work also assuming cell coverage.

So sad. These guys were true ski professionals who knew every nook and cranny of Stevens and literally hundreds of areas around the world. Unfortunately the mountains are unforgiving. They were leaders who spent a lifetime giving back to the sport they loved. Thoughts and prayers. Jim's Levenworth promo

Looks like names are being released for the Steven's incident, though I'm not sure if it's official at this point so I won't write them here. They are posted on Steve Romeo's tetonat blog.

Sad day.

Matt,

Thanks for the link to that info.

In the article it states, "The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center rated the avalanche danger as "High" on Sunday morning for elevations 5,000 feet and above and warned of "widespread natural and triggered soft and wind slab avalanches" for the area around Stevens Pass, due to heavy snowfall and and strong winds. Stevens Pass ski area's base elevation is 4,061 feet and the summit elevation is 5,845 feet." 

This is a comment I've heard echoed in much of the mainstream news reports.  When they (and I) check the NWAC forecast in the morning before a trip, it's still the forecast from the day prior, and in this case, very different from the revised forecast that finally came out later in the day.  I fully believe the good folks who compile the daily data on NWAC's behalf work hard and do an excellent job and I'm not in any way maligning their hard work.  The timing, however, seems to present an issue since most people relying on the forecast have already walked out the door with a day-old forecast and are in the heat of the fire by the time the updates are posted.  Is there any way around this?  Apologies if this is inappropriate time/place give the circumstances.

This is very somber news to say the least.  Prayers for all involved.

i find this more inappropriate than releasing the names. these guys were more than capable of making their own avalanche decisions. With or without an avalanche report that probably isn't specific to Stevens pass. Lets keep the armchair forecasting to its own thread.

On Scott -He's fine.

On the others.  Saturday eve I made a snow check when I left work.  I bailed on BC and returned for a morning of resort turns.  Trashed from very little sleep all week I was up for only a short day. I the typical early lineup wait I ran into "everybody" in the morning.  Was happy for known faces and ski buddies to tag morning runs with. 

After the incident several out of bounds exit points were closed (and manned).  Rumors had avys also in other areas too. Patrol said a slide in Highland bowl, but didn't know anything else. Now maybe I see they just closed any exiting to the side/slack country?

I heard a few hours ago the names of those trapped on the radio (6:20pm).  It has taken a little bit for the shock to set in.  It was so different when it was just some anonymous skiers.  Now it’s hitting hard when people I’ve skied with and know.  I’d expected a bunch of the typical yahoos you see hiking out of bounds…  Not so.

...still processing it all. 

I'm glad to have had the moments skiing good times with them.  And a sorrow to have turns only in memories.  RIP guys, you are missed