Eastside News

Heavy wet snow brings avalanche danger warning

Avalanche danger in the North Cascades has rescuers warning anyone heading into the backcountry to be prepared in case the wet heavy snow comes loose.

The Northwest Avalanche center issued a red alert. The wet, heavy snow that has been falling could lead to an avalanche in the mountains.

Nobody has been hurt, but the rescuers are worried that some will come to enjoy the beauty of the mountains without being fully prepared.

A King County search and rescue crew decided to do an impromptu training at the Tinkham Road exit off I-90 near North Bend. They were greeted by many wrapping up a day spent in the deep, wet snow of the backcountry.

"In the backcountry, there's no avalanche controlling going on," said King County Sheriff's deputy Peter Linde. "That's where accidents are going to happen."

Linde is one of the leaders of the King County Search and Rescue. He gave a demonstration of what everyone heading into the snowy woods needs to stay safe.

First on his list is an avalanche beacon.

"So they're both transmitting," he said. "Something happens to you, yours is transmitting. And I put mine in the search mode."

Second, a metal probe in case someone is buried under the snow and an aluminum shovel in case the person has to be dug out.

Linde says even snowshoers need this kind of equipment and likely someone else there, too.

"And if something does happen, worst case scenario, you can help each other out," said Linde.

It is a lesson avid back country skiers Dennis Willhite and Mark Viele have taken to heart.

"We've been around the block a couple of times so we know what we're supposed to do," said Willhite.

"It was as safe as we could make it," said Viele.

As safe as they could make it while enjoying skiing in this place where nobody else had been.

" We made a couple of cuts on the steep slope, tried to get anything to move and nothing would move," said Willhite. "So we were very happy about that because we wanted to ski it."

They had everything, the beacon, the probe and the shovel, ane even previously taken classes. They say they have never needed to use any of it and they hope it stays that way.

Rescuers like Peter Linde say they don't want to discourage anyone from coming to the mountains, but be prepared.

He says if just one person heeds this warning, he'll be happy.

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