Washington, Cascades, Granite Mountain. (See accident report.) The King County Sheriff and Seattle MRC were notified of the avalanche accident at 8:00 P.M. on March 25th. Organization was slow because almost all available MRC personnel and equipment were at the Mt. St. Helen’s aircraft search. Further delay was caused by confusion about the location of the State Patrol avalanche probe cache. The MRC teams arrived at the trail at 11:35 P.M., and were preceded by one hour by a Ski Patrol and Forest Service team. After reaching the scene of the avalanche, a hasty search was conducted at the sides of the avalanche track, and lookouts were posted to warn of further avalanche danger.

Probing by a second series of teams was partially ineffective because the avalanche was deeper than the eight foot probes. After one hour of probing, the lower group located Dr. Andrews’ body. At intervals, three members of one of the teams came close to disaster, sliding down the icy track toward a 200 foot waterfall, but all stopped in soft snow. These men were without ice axes and wore smooth soled shoes!

Probing and searching continued throughout the next day, as additional teams arrived. With a depth of 30 feet at the bottom, a thorough search was not possible, and the search was called off at nightfall on Monday. The following weekend two teams of searchers and two Army teams with mine detectors continued the search. The mine detectors proved to be effective only to a depth of about two feet. Searching continued intermittently, and on April 16th, teams of Seattle and Tacoma MRC located LeBeau’s body in a patch of alder 1000 feet above the waterfalls. The body had been uncovered by melt some two or three days earlier.

Source: Critique report of Seattle Mountain Rescue Council by Ted Mueller.

Analysis: Since it is not uncommon for rescue units to have several operations in progress simultaneously, it is essential that some key personnel and equipment be available for multiple emergencies. All team leaders must always check their team members to be sure that equipment and skills are appropriate for the terrain. Searches above and around an avalanche area should be made to be sure that a victim has not escaped in a dazed condition and wandered away.