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Show hundred feet below and behind S.' s position. A. heard a low rumbling, looked up, and yelled " look out" to his companions. All three turned and tried to ski down and away from the slide. A. was successful, and was not caught. Both J. and S. were enveloped by the snow. A. made a quick search of the slide, and, not locating either of his companions, skied back down the canyon for help. First contact was made with a State Highway Patrolman at 1545 hours, who in turn relayed the alert to the local Snow Ranger at 1555 hours. First party of 5 men was dispatched at 1615 with the eyewitness A. A second party left at 1645 with 6 men, and a third party left at 1655 with 16 men. Three of the rescuers played out and had to return. The Hasty Party arrived at the scene at 2040 hours. They had established the last seen points when the second party arrived at 2125. The Snow Ranger was in this group, and directed the rescuers to make a hasty search below the last seen points. The Snow Ranger found a ski, and in calling to the rescuers for help, he was amazed to hear the victim answering from under the snow. S. was dug out at 2155, cold, but otherwise unhurt, after being buried over 8 hours. He was put in a sleeping bag while the search continued. Additional follow- up parties were dispatched at 0010 on 8 February with 17 men, and at 0700 with 18 men. In darkness and storm the search continued for J. At 0200 hours, 8 February, the Snow Ranger took stock of his situation. He had two casualties on his hands, the boy dug out of the avalanche and the eyewitness. After three trips through the canyon, the latter was in the final stages of exhaustion. The rescuers were in little better condition. Bad weather, lack of proper equipment, and poor physical condition had choked off the stream of reinforcements. It had now been 13 hours since the accident. The Snow Ranger realized that if he continued the search under the existing conditions, he would be risking the safety of many in the now forlorn hope of rescuing one. He made the painful decision to withdraw to the protection of timber and set up a temporary camp. The search was resumed at daylight, after one of the follow- up parties had arrived and a thorough review of J.' s route was made. At 0740 hours, a small part of a ski was located under the edge of a large piece of snow. The ski was still attached to J. and he was dug from the snow. The coroner's report listed cause of death as a broken neck. S. was flown out by helicopter, and J.' s body brought out by sled. Rescue operations ended with all members returning to Snoqualmie Pass at 1620 hours, 8 February. It was concluded that the actions of the skiers in no way triggered the avalanche. It released naturally above the bench, and the party was in the outer edge of the avalanche path. The survivor of the accident, S., gave a personal account which is worth repeating here. After A. gave his warning call, S. said he " saw J. turn and start skiing down. I turned and started down, but it was on top of me in an instant. I didn't see the slide take J." S. doesn't remember being 17 |