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The rush of back-country skiing in nearly two feet of fresh powder drew more than a dozen experienced skiers to the out-of-bounds area at Stevens Pass on Sunday. But three of them didn't make it off the mountain. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Erika Schultz)

Three killed in avalanche at Stevens Pass

BY Chris Sullivan  on February 20, 2012 @ 4:04 am (Updated: 1:13 pm - 2/20/12 )

It's what back-country skiers live for. A blanket of fresh powder. No tracks in the snow. A chance to put their skills to the test.

It's what brought more than a dozen skiers to Tunnel Creek, an area outside the ropes off Stevens' 7th Heaven chairlift. But there was extreme avalanche danger on Sunday, and three of them did not make it off the mountain alive.

"That's the risk that we take," Joel Hammond, who was with the group, told KING 5. "That's part of the sport, but it's also what we live for. That's what those three guys lived for. That's what drove those amazing people."

The group was caught up in a cascade of fresh powder. They were pushed through and intro trees, nearly 1,500 feet down the mountain. Many were buried by the fast moving avalanche. Most were able to dig themselves out. But three could not. They died in the snow, despite their friends best efforts to revive them.

John Gifford, the General Manager at Stevens Pass, said "It's a sad day."

"It's tough when you have a death, and when you have three at one time, it's really hard on all the staff."

Especially hard on that staff considering one of the men killed was Chris Rudolph, the Marketing Director at Stevens.

A fourth skier buried by the snow survived the avalanche because she was wearing an inflatable safety vest that she was able to deploy. It kept Elyse Saugstad near the top of the snow, allowing her head to stay above it, but she told Good Morning America it wasn't an easy ride.

"I will say it's not like you're actually having an inner-tube ride down the snow it's definitely not like that," she said. "You are still very much in the avalanche itself. It's kind of like you're in a washing machine, and you're being tossed and turned. You don't know which was is up or down."

All the skiers caught up in this avalanche had extensive back-country experience. They were all well-prepared for the conditions, and they were using all the safety precautions for back country skiing, including skiing with buddies and going one person at a time.

The Stevens Pass fatalities were part of a deadly Sunday on Washington ski slopes. A male snowboarder was killed in a separate avalanche incident at the Alpental ski area east of Seattle, authorities said.

Stevens Pass is one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in the state, with visitors flocking to the scenic site to go cross-country, back-country and downhill skiing, as well as snowshoeing and backpacking.

Across the West, there had been 13 avalanche deaths this season as of Thursday, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which tracks avalanche deaths in the U.S.

Experts have said the risk of additional slides in the region could remain high all season. They attribute the dangers in part to a weak base layer of snow caused by a dry winter.

Avalanche deaths are more common in the backcountry than at ski resorts. Out of about 900 avalanche deaths nationwide since the winter of 1950-51, 32 were within terrain that was open for riding at ski resorts, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (10)


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  • Edmund Fitzgerald wrote...
    sad to hear of loss--
    February 20, 2012 6:29 am
    they did what they loved and were trained--that's that--nothing more. all knew risks. now, i hope some fool will not class-action sue the mountain or clouds for wrongful death. can't put a whimp-guard bubble around all of our lives. may they rest in peace.
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  • ssbn629g wrote...
    Out of Bounds
    February 20, 2012 7:35 am
    While sad for the families....it comes down to the logical consequence of their decision to venture out of bounds. There is something about human nature that assumes it won't happen to us....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Out of bounds
    February 20, 2012 8:21 am
    just means that the area they were in was not maintained by Stevens pass employees or patrolled by the Ski Patrol. When you park your car on the side of a mountain road and go behind a tree to pee you are “out of bounds” My condolences to all the people who never venture “out of bounds”. How sad a life must that be?
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  • B-Town Girl(Burien y'all) wrote...
    I'd rather have a "sad" life than no life at all.
    February 20, 2012 9:04 am
    But I totally get your car analogy. Some of us are not risk-takers. Doesn't mean we have a "sad" life by any stretch of the imagination. I quite enjoy my life, thank you very much.
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  • xplanes wrote...
    Do you think...
    February 20, 2012 9:47 am
    They'll fine the survivors $1,000 each to teach them a lesson? I used to snowboard out of bounds on occasion. I knew the risks and was willing to take them. I'm married and have a family now and I'm no longer willing to take those risks. In a free society that's my decision. The state passed a law authorizing a fine for skiing out of bounds just last year. I am very sad for the loss of life. I have friends who have died in a similar manner. It is worth pointing out as well how pointless these kind of laws are. They should be removed from the books and the state should start treating us all like adults.
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  • CH wrote...
    * Three killed in avalanche at Stevens Pass . . . .
    February 20, 2012 11:14 am
    I agree with the state passing a law authorizing a fine for skiing out of bounds. Tax $$$$ are used to rescue them. Should be a $10,000 fine for survivors.
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  • xplanes wrote...
    well then...
    February 20, 2012 11:31 am
    You should be charged for the police or fire department to show up at your house when you need rescue. Oh wait... you already are...in your taxes. If you prefer a user pay system then cut my taxes and just send the bill when my house burns down. No... they want to charge taxes to keep them on duty and then charge user fees/penalties when they actually have to do their job. Right.
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  • mkrcr wrote...
    I'm Thinkin'
    February 20, 2012 11:56 am
    It just goes to show that Mother Nature is the true expert.
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  • ssbn629g wrote...
    Moondoggie
    February 20, 2012 12:36 pm
    Condolences to those who never live out of bounds? How wonderfully patronizing. Spare us the holier than thou platitudes of judging another person's quality of life by your standards.
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  • Skykomish2 wrote...
    Skiers
    February 20, 2012 1:15 pm
    The skiers were skiing in an area thats not maintained. It was not a forbidden area. The lure of the outdoors spots where the atmosphere is free from crowds is primal to many of us. For skiers its fresh untouched powder. For me its hiking off the beaten path up into the high country - I don't ski. There are risks inherent in going beyond the safety net. It should never be made illegal, but cautions should be taken to lessen the possibilities of catastrophe. These skiers were experienced and knew what they were getting into. The 3 died doing what they loved, the rest will mourne their friends and go on. Some may never ski the back country again. But they'll always know that they pushed the envelope and won.
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