Two men have died after being caught in an avalanche while snowmobiling in the mountains of Washington state, authorities have confirmed.
The Fatal Incident
The tragedy occurred on Friday afternoon near Longs Pass in northern Kittitas County. The victims have been named as Paul Markoff, 38, of North Bend, and Erik Henne, 43, of Snoqualmie Pass. They were enjoying the snowy conditions with two companions when the avalanche struck.
The two other men in the party survived the slide. They managed to send a distress signal using a Garmin satellite device, which alerted the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office and local search and rescue volunteers.
Dangerous Rescue and Recovery
Rescuers used snowmobiles and specialised winter equipment to reach the remote location on Friday evening. They successfully extracted the two survivors that night. However, due to the ongoing hazardous avalanche conditions, recovery efforts for the deceased men had to be postponed.
Teams returned on Saturday morning with specialised avalanche search dogs (K9s). The bodies of the two men were then airlifted to a search base and transferred to the Kittitas County Coroner's Office. The recovery operation also retrieved the men's belongings, including their two snowmobiles.
Weather Conditions and Condolences
The region has experienced significant snowfall this week. According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, the nearby Snoqualmie Pass recorded 27 inches of snow, while Stevens Pass saw 25 inches, with the heaviest accumulations in the mountains.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office extended its sympathies, stating: "The Sheriff's Office and KCSR extend condolences to the families and friends of those lost." The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers present in the backcountry during periods of heavy snow and heightened avalanche risk.
