Avalanche buries and kills snowmobiler, traps another, Washington officials say

An avalanche triggered by snowmobilers swept away two people, killing one, Washington officials reported.

The avalanche took place at Harts Pass on Friday, Feb. 28, the Northwest Avalanche Center said in a preliminary report.

Two snowmobilers were caught in the slab avalanche, which buried and killed one of them, the center said.

The other snowmobiler was partly buried and injured, the center said.

An investigation with local avalanche professionals continues.

Harts Pass is about a 270-mile drive northeast from Seattle.

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 15 people in the U.S. have died in avalanches this season as of March 2, 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 2, 2025 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Avalanche buries and kills snowmobiler, traps another, Washington officials say."