Washington, Mt. Index. On 26 December, Horace Gates (42), and his three sons, William (16), Louis (13), and Frank (12) set out for a day trip to Lake Serene at the 2900-foot level of Mt. Index. The weather was clear and balmy for a December day so the party, after reaching the lake, decided to traverse around it. Events after this are not too clear. Apparently, after darkness overtook them they continued to traverse the lake, running into cliffs on the east side. Here they attempted to work their way above the cliffs. It was in this general area Horace Gates and his son, Frank, were found lying together in the snow, dead. The other two boys, William and Louis, had made their way slightly above and about 50 yards laterally from the collapsed boy and his father, William built a fire and returned to his father after receiving no answer from him. Frank was unconscious and the father not too coherent at this point. William took the car keys from his father and went for help.

He was met at the car by the sheriff. Everett Mountain Rescue was called and rescue teams left the road early Friday morning. Louis, who spent the night by the fire, was evacuated by the Paine Field Air Rescue helicopter at 10:00 A.M. The father and son were pronounced dead by Dr. Otto Trott on the slope where they were found. The bodies of Horace Gates and his son Frank were evacuated by ground parties.

The autopsy report showed that Horace Gates and his son, Frank, died from exhaustion and exposure.

Source: Safety Committee, Mountaineers.