Forum Index > Trail Talk > Avalanche Accident Colchuck Peak 2/19, 3 reported killed
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gb
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 4:23 am 
From NWS with little detail at this time: https://nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/#/east-slopes-central Haven't really been out but the Eastern Washington snowpack from watching "NWAC recent observations" and data indicate that there are multiple weak snowpack layers of facets, poor bond to crusts and buried surface hoar. The weak layers typically develop in cold periods, but it has been rather seasonal, albeit with lower than average depth snowpacks especially in Eastern Washington (Mission Ridge). The observations for the past week or more have shown strongly wind textured surfaces above tree-line. It has moved me not to think skiing would be worth much most of the time. Since the 19th White Pass in particular has shown extremely strong winds. Since noon on the 19th there has only been one hour where maximum wind gusts have not been 70 to 90 mph. I saw that yesterday when I looked at weather data at NWAC. The last several hours (after the accident) showed extreme winds reaching a maximum of 123 MPH. Likely these types of winds have been at elevation along the east slopes. More typically, significant avalanching takes place during significant warming storms but there hasn't been that much recent snow in most areas in the past week or more. But it has been windy and NWAC has consistently shown that to be a concern for the past week or two. Hard windslabs resting on lower density weak layers do not really stabilize all that much unless it is quite warm - i.e. not in winter at elevation.....they are stiff, but more or less brittle-strong, and can result in sudden and wide-propagating slabs. The early reports of this accident have no details but clearly report a major tragedy.

Now I Fly  Josh Journey, Mesahchie Mark, awilsondc
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altasnob
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 8:17 am 
Here's what NWAC is saying so far: "We’ve received preliminary information of an avalanche incident on Colchuck Peak, SW of Leavenworth, WA. (East Central Zone) The accident occurred on Sunday, February 19 and involved a group of 6 backcountry travelers. Three members of the group are suspected to have been buried and perished in the event. Another sustained injuries and was evacuated by SAR. Rescue efforts are ongoing. NWAC is working with Chelan County Sheriff’s office and will make updates as more information becomes available."

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Snowshovel
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 9:39 am 
Wow. That’s really bad

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Mountainpines
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 10:49 am 
So sad!

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Schroder
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 2:48 pm 
Quote:
CCSO said a group of four backcountry hikers was climbing the northwest couloir on Colchuck Peak on the south end of Colchuck Lake Sunday afternoon when the avalanche occurred. The lead climber triggered the avalanche around 1 p.m. and all four climbers slid about 500 feet. The three killed include a 53-year-old man from Connecticut, a 60-year-old woman from New York, and a 66-year-old man from New Jersey, the sheriff's office reports. A 56-year-old man from New York survived but was injured. Two other hikers saw the slide and were able to stay away and a 7th member of the group hiked to Leavenworth for help. The hiker was able to contact the sheriff's office at 8 a.m. Monday morning.
North Buttress couloir?

Mountainpines
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thunderhead
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 3:20 pm 
Schroder wrote:
North Buttress couloir?
Thats what I am guessing until more details are confirmed. Wonder if they were buried or suffered trauma in the fall. The NB couloir was probably a bit wind loaded... some of the taller terrain around sticking up higher into the wind.

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osprey
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 4:32 pm 
**Chelan County Sheriff's Office Media Release** Sheriff Mike Morrison reports on February 20th, 2023 Deputies were contacted at the CCSO Leavenworth substation about an avalanche that occurred near Colchuck Lake the previous day. The reporting party, a 53-year-old Maryland man reported the group he was with had attempted to climb Colchuck Peak on Sunday February 19th. There were six climbers in that group and the reporting party had stayed at their base camp that day. The lead climber triggered an avalanche while attempting to climb the Northeast Couloir of Colchuck Peak. Four of the climbers were swept down the couloir approximately 500 feet. Three of the climbers died as a result of trauma sustained in the fall. They were a 60-year-old female from New York, a 66-year-old male from New Jersey, and a 53-year-old male from Connecticut. The fourth climber, a 56 year old male form New York sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was able to hike back to base camp with the remaining two. They were a 50-year-old male from New York and a 36-year-old male from New Jersey. When they arrived at camp, they sent the reporting party for help. When Deputies took the report, A SAR coordinator started gathering resources. A total of 22 rescuers responded to the trailhead to assist with this effort. They were from Chelan County Mounty Rescue, Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue and ORV unit, Seattle Mountain Rescue, Tacoma Mountain Rescue, and Yakima Mountain Rescue. A group of four from Chelan County Mountain Rescue responded to the lake driven part of the way by the CCVSAR ORV unit. They reached the base camp at approximately 1:30 pm. They were able to determine avalanche conditions were too hazardous to continue to the deceased climbers. They escorted the surviving climbers back to the trailhead. Rescuers were not sent back in to the scene today due to hazardous conditions. CCSO continues to work with Northwest Avalanche Center to assist in a recover plan.

pwrobinson, Mountainpines, SpookyKite89, maurella
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 7:37 pm 
FWIW NWAC forecast for the 19th for the East Central Zone https://nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/#/forecast/8/120025
Quote:
THE BOTTOM LINE Expect increasing danger on Sunday as a multi-day storm begins to affect the area. Wind slabs should grow in size at upper elevations near the crest, and could be reactive on a recently buried weak snow or a slick crust. Take a step back in your terrain selection, identifying large steep slopes in the wind zone that hold questionable stability

Mountainpines, Mike Collins
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PostTue Feb 21, 2023 7:54 pm 
NWAC has a preliminary report with a bit more detail
NWAC wrote:
A group of six climbers attempted to climb the Northeast Couloir route on Colchuck Peak. At approximately 1:15pm, while ascending the route, the lead climber triggered a slab avalanche that caught and carried four members of the team approximately 500ft to the base of the climb. Three of the climbers suffered fatal traumatic injuries, and a fourth sustained lower extremity injuries. The remaining climbers attempted to evacuate all individuals but were unsuccessful. Subsequent natural avalanches impacted the accident site in the hours following the event. The Chelan County Sheriff’s office was notified of the accident on Monday, February 20th. Chelan County Mountain Rescue traveled to the site and assisted the injured party member to the trailhead. Recovery efforts will be ongoing this week as weather and avalanche conditions allow. NWAC is working with Chelan County Sheriff’s office, and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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PostWed Feb 22, 2023 7:47 am 
This is such a baffling tragedy. The party clearly had the wherewithal to attempt a steep and technical route (getting even 500' up it would require both gear and skill), and yet they lacked the avvy training or situational awareness to recognize the attendant risk of attempting it under the prevailing conditions?

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gb
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PostWed Feb 22, 2023 8:01 am 
guibo wrote:
This is such a baffling tragedy. The party clearly had the wherewithal to attempt a steep and technical route (getting even 500' up it would require both gear and skill), and yet they lacked the avvy training or situational awareness to recognize the attendant risk of attempting it under the prevailing conditions?
I am sure they regrettably recognize this, but they are undoubtedly in too much pain for us to discuss this in this thread. They also did not come from areas where avalanches are much of a concern. The victims deserve our condolences not our criticsm. The links to NWAC should be enough to remind the rest of us.

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PostWed Feb 22, 2023 8:10 am 
guibo wrote:
This is such a baffling tragedy. The party clearly had the wherewithal to attempt a steep and technical route (getting even 500' up it would require both gear and skill), and yet they lacked the avvy training or situational awareness to recognize the attendant risk of attempting it under the prevailing conditions?
It's difficult to express frustration with the loss of 3 people & not make it sound like adding insult-to-injury. I get what you're expressing I also agree with the following comment. It's a time for compassion

Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want

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Malachai Constant
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PostWed Feb 22, 2023 8:47 am 
The press does not help either. I doubt beacons or gear would help much. Satellite reception would have been spotty in the couloir also. Monday morning quarterbacking is seldom productive. RIP

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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guibo
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PostWed Feb 22, 2023 9:49 am 
I'm not being either compassionate or non-compassionate - just saying it's an unusual set of elements for a mountaineering tragedy. That's all. I could say the usual things - that I feel bad for the people involved, etc. etc. - but an anonymous person saying stuff like that into the ether means about as much as the paper it's printed on.

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Randito
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PostWed Feb 22, 2023 11:44 am 
The climbing party was from New York, Connecticut and Maryland. They may have had considerable experience with ice climbing. Avalanche hazard is less of factor in the NE and fewer Avalanche education courses are offered in the area. The level of Avalanche education of the party hasn't been released AFAIK. The accident occurred on a holiday weekend and involved people that have traveled to the area. Speculation on my part, but there have been quite few tragic incidents on Mt Rainier/Muir snowfield where parties that had flown into the state had proceeded with plans even in the face of a poor weather forecast. Perhaps "climbing on a schedule" was a factor in this tragedy as well.

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