Avalanche kills 2 men at Longs Pass in Washington state
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Two people died when an avalanche struck a group of four snowmobilers last week, officials in Washington state announced Saturday.
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said the avalanche occurred Friday afternoon in a remote area near Longs Pass, a popular hiking spot in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
“On Friday, January 9, around 4 p.m., four men were caught in an avalanche while recreation in the backcountry snow near Longs Pass in the mountains of northern Kittitas County,” the office said.
Authorities identified the dead men as Paul Markoff, 38, of North Bend, and Erik Henne, 43, of Snoqualmie Pass. Kittitas County officials told Fox News Digital on Sunday that one of the dead was partially buried by an avalanche and his fellow survivors tried to dig him out. The other man was found by a K9 unit in the snow at a depth of about 4 feet, the office said.
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Search and rescue teams responded to the area where an avalanche struck four people on Jan. 9, 2025, in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Park in Washington state. (Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities said deputies and search and rescue teams responded to the scene after two survivors, Ian Laing and Patrick Leslie, were able to send a distress call using a Garmin satellite device.
The Northwest Avalanche Center, which arrived at the scene to assess the accident, said one of the survivors was injured after being partially buried by the avalanche. The sheriff’s office told Fox News Digital that he suffered a knee injury but described it as a non-debilitating condition.
The other man was not buried by the avalanche, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
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A K9 unit found a body buried in snow 4 feet deep after an avalanche struck a group of people in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Park in Washington state on Jan. 9, 2025. (Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office)
Responding crews reached the remote site using snowmobiles and carrying specialized equipment, according to officials. Survivors were reportedly transported that evening.
Officials added that after rescuing the survivors, conditions became too dangerous for the crew to rescue the deceased during the night.
The next morning, personnel returned to the field with air support and three K9 units trained in avalanche search to help navigate rugged terrain.
A K9 unit searches for a body in the snow after an avalanche struck four people in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Park in Washington state on Jan. 9, 2025. (Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office)
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Both men were then flown to a search base and released into the custody of the Kittitas County Medical Examiner’s Office, authorities said.
The men’s personal belongings, including two snowmobiles, were also seized, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The Sheriff’s Office and KCSR (Kittitas County Search and Rescue) extend their condolences to the families and friends of those killed,” officials said.
