The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek: Disaster on the Mountain

The fresh powder beckoned 16 expert skiers and snowboarders into the backcountry. Without warning, a slab of snow cracked and swept violently down the mountain. No one knew how many were inside.

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• Category

  News & Politics

[DjBall]

The multimedia piece by the Times was well done.

Thank you for this.

[misterfunnybones]

7:49 he takes the beacon/transceiver out of his pack. Safe backcountry travel demands that you wear the beacon/transceiver over base layers tight against you. Your pack will be ripped off in an avalanche and your search team will find your pack. A sobering article from John Branch & the NYT multimedia team.

[Samuel Milton]

One Year anniversary!!!! We MISS YOU ALL!!!!

[Samuel Milton]

I was at Stevens 5 days after the avalanche and it was weird without Chris on the mountain!!!! RIP to all that died that day!!!! I'm going to Stevens & Mt. Baker this weekend!!!!

[gregoryalund]

Tillallareoneluv POS like you are entertaining.

[tillallareoneluv]

Couldn't resist that 'fresh deep powder'. Oh well, your ski bretheren are still dead. and 8:00 he takes out his travel beacon. Knock em dead snowbunny.

[bdb3011]

After 16 years in the ski industry, I've actually come to a place in my life where I don't blame ignorant people like tillallareoneluv for their interesting comments.  This person can't help that they have no idea what they're talking about.

"locator beacons"... really...?

[Samuel Milton]

VERY SAD!!!!

[Samuel Milton]

I live in Denver and I snowboard in the backcountry all the time and I've seen avalanche's before!!!!

[ryanpiuma]

I just read the full article. Incredible journalism, sad story.

Thanks for the work that went into this. Anyone considering backcountry skiing should read the full article.