Alpenglow Ski Mountaineering History Project Home

NWAC.us - Northwest Avalanche Accidents
This table lists avalanche accidents in the Northwest (Canadian border to Mt Hood) from 1910 to 2020 obtained from various sources, including: The Snowy Torrents: 1980-86, The Snowy Torrents: 1986-1996, The Snowy Torrents: 1996-2004 and NWAC.us. Accidents east of the Cascade Mountains (i.e. Blue Mountains and Wallowas) are not included here. Information in the 1980-86 volume of The Snowy Torrents is from the table on p. 244 entitled, "Accidents in All Four Volumes of The Snowy Torrents, 1910-86." For detailed descriptions of accidents before 1980, you need to refer to earlier volumes. (Note that not all Northwest avalanche accidents are listed in these books.)

When I initially compiled this table, there was no volume of The Snowy Torrents covering the period from 1986 through 1996. To help fill in this period, I included statistics obtained from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), the Seattle Times Historical Archives (online search), and an old NWAC database provided to me by Mark Moore. (Note: When there was a discrepancy between The Snowy Torrents and the old NWAC database, I went with the information from Snowy Torrents. When there was a discrepancy on dates between any two sources, I looked up the date in the Seattle Times.) I've also reviewed avalanche records compiled by Matt Schonwald but have not added accidents from his list at this point. (There were no additional fatalities in Matt's list.) In 2022, The Snowy Torrents: 1986-1996 was published, and I updated this table at that time.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding accidents are shown below in white. Accidents involving other activities are shown in blue. I've generally omitted non-recreational accidents and those involving structures only. "Sidecountry" skiers include anyone who uses a lift to access terrain outside of the controlled and open ski area boundary. Accidents to "lift skiers" occurred within the boundary of a controlled and open ski area. Before 1987, I reclassified snow ranger accidents as ski patrollers if the victims were working in a ski area with lifts. In some cases, I may not have differentiated between snowboarders and skiers, referring to them all as skiers.

Information sources are indicated as follows in the Source column:
C = CAIC
N = NWAC.us
O = Old NWAC database (courtesy of Mark Moore)
S = Snowy Torrents
T = Seattle Times

Source Date Location Activity Caught Killed
S 3/1/1910 Stevens Pass (Wellington), WA Railroad 99 96
O 1/22/1916 Stevens Pass (Corea), WA Railroad ? 8
O 1/13/1936 Mt Baker ski area, WA Lift skiers 3 1
O 1/13/1936 Mt Rainier, WA Climber 1 1
O 1/27/1936 Mt Rainier (Narada Falls), WA Backcountry skiers 3 1
OS 7/22/1939 Mt Baker, WA Climbers (Bellingham College) 25 6
O 5/9/1949 North Cascades Hikers 2 1
OS 2/7/1953 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Backcountry skiers 2 1
C 4/7/1957 Granite Mtn, WA Hiker ? 1
OS 3/16/1958 Crystal Mtn (Silver Creek), WA Backcountry skiers, snow rangers 3 0
OS 6/20/1959 Mt Hood, OR Climbers 5 1
OS 3/25/1962 Granite Mtn, WA Climbers 2 2
C 5/20/1962 Big Four Mtn, WA Climber ? 1
OS 12/30/1962 Stevens Pass, WA Ski patrollers 2 0
O 12/31/1962 Stevens Pass, WA Backcountry skier 1 0
C 5/18/1963 Lundin Peak, WA Climber ? 1
OS 2/5/1966 Shuksan Arm (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skiers 5 1
OS 1/27/1968 Alpental, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 2/3/1968 Stevens Pass, WA Snow rangers 2 0
OS 2/8/1968 Alpental, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 3/16/1968 Mission Ridge, WA Sidecountry skiers 2 0
OS 3/30/1968 Stevens Pass, WA Lift skier 1 0
OS 12/8/1968 Mt Hood Meadows, OR Lift skier 1 0
OS 1/26/1969 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 1/30/1969 Omak, WA Snow players 2 0
OS 2/14/1969 Mt Rainier (Panorama Point), WA Snowshoers (park rangers) 3 0
OS 3/5/1969 Alpental, WA Ski patrollers 2 0
S 3/9/1969 Mt Rainier (Panorama Point), WA Backcountry skier 1 1
OS 12/13/1969 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 1/24/1970 Alpental, WA Lift skier 1 0
OS 12/28/1970 Mt Baker ski area, WA Lift skier 1 1
OS 12/30/1970 Crystal Mtn, WA Lift skiers 2 0
OS 1/16/1971 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller 3 0
OS 1/24/1971 Stevens Pass (Yodelin), WA Residents 16 4
S 1/24/1971 Stevens Pass, WA Highway worker 1 0
S 1/25/1971 Stevens Pass, WA Highway worker 1 0
OS 1/27/1971 Crystal Mtn, WA Lift skier 1 0
OS 3/1/1972 Mission Ridge, WA Snow rangers 2 0
OS 4/22/1972 Artist Point (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
OS 5/10/1972 Mt Garfield, WA Climbers 2 2
OS 12/25/1972 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 11/24/1973 White Pass, WA Ski patrollers 2 0
OS 11/25/1973 Mt Baker ski area, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 12/5/1973 Mt Hood Meadows, OR Ski patroller 1 0
OS 12/27/1973 White Pass, WA Snow ranger 1 0
OS 1/27/1974 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Snowshoers 2 2
OS 11/18/1974 Mt Rainier (Success Cleaver), WA Climber 1 1
OS 1/9/1975 Multorpor, OR Lift skier 1 0
OS 1/17/1975 Ingalls Creek, WA Snowshoer 1 0
OS 4/26/1975 Mt Hood, OR Climbers 4 1
OS 4/26/1975 Mt St Helens (Forsyth Glacier), WA Climbers 24 5
S 11/30/1975 Mission Ridge, WA Lift skier 1 0
OS 11/30/1975 Mt Rainier, WA Snowshoers 4 1
OS 3/27/1976 Silver Peak, WA Snowshoer 1 1
OS 5/15/1976 Big Four Mtn, WA Climber 1 1
OS 12/31/1977 Mt Rainier (Panorama Point), WA Climber 1 1
OS 4/23/1978 Mt Rainier (Panorama Point), WA Backcountry skiers 7 0
S 5/30/1978 Mt Rainier, WA Climbers 7 0
OS 5/31/1978 Mt Rainier (Fuhrer Finger), WA Climbers 3 1
OS 8/27/1978 Mt Baker (Roman Wall), WA Climbers 3 1
OS 1/20/1979 Stevens Pass, WA Snowshoers 3 1
OS 3/3/1979 Sun Top Mountain, WA Snowshoers 7 0
OS 3/4/1979 Mt Rainier (Cadaver Gap), WA Climbers 4 2
OS 1/19/1980 Snoqualmie Pass (Red Mtn), WA Snowshoers 2 0
S 2/2/1980 Mission Ridge, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 3/15/1980 Crystal Mtn, WA Lift skier 1 1
S 3/17/1981 Mt Hood (Timberline), OR Sidecountry skiers 3 0
OS 4/12/1981 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Backcountry skiers 6 1
OS 6/21/1981 Mt Rainier (Disappointment Cleaver), WA Climbers 22 11
O 1/23/1982 White Pass, WA Ski patrollers 2 0
S 6/20/1982 Mt Hood, OR Climbers 5 1
OS 4/16/1983 Granite Mtn, WA Hikers 5 1
S 6/26/1983 Mt Shuksan, WA Climbers 2 2
S 12/10/1983 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller 1 0
O 12/29/1983 White River (Camp Sheppard), WA Climbers (waterfall ice) 2 1
S 5/18/1984 Granite Mtn, WA Climber 1 0
OS 5/27/1984 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Hiker 1 1
O 5/28/1984 Snoqualmie Pass (Chair Pk), WA Climbers 2 1
O 12/30/1984 Mt Baker ski area, WA Sidecountry snowboarder 1 1
OS 2/9/1985 Mt Si, WA Climbers 2 1
S 2/12/1985 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller 1 0
OS 5/12/1985 Whitehorse Mtn, WA Climbers 6 1
O 6/8/1985 Mt Rainier, WA Backcountry skier 1 0
O 6/10/1985 Mt Rainier (Van Trump Park), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
O 6/24/1985 Mt Rainier (Emmons Glacier), WA Climbers 2 0
OS 11/25/1985 Mt Rainier (Edith Creek), WA Climbers 2 0
OS 2/15/1986 Mt Rainier (Reflection Lakes), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
O 5/4/1986 Mt Constance (Olympics), WA Climbers 2 0
ST 8/3/1986 Mt Baker, WA Climbers 4 2
T 1/19/1988 Stevens Pass (Yodelin), WA Snowshoers 2 2
COST 3/6/1988 Mt Rainier (Tatoosh Range), WA Backcountry skier 1 1
OT 5/13/1988 Mt Rainier (Liberty Ridge), WA Climbers 3 3
T 1/8/1989 Mt Rainier (Mazama Ridge), WA Backcountry skiers 5 0
COST 2/19/1989 Mt Hood Meadows, OR Ski patroller 1 1
O 11/26/1989 Mt Rainier (Panorama Point), WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
OT 1/27/1990 Snoqualmie Pass (Kendall Peak), WA Backcountry skiers 4 0
S 12/2/1990 Crystal Mtn (Paul's Face), WA Ski patroller 1 0
O 12/31/1990 Snoqualmie Pass (Rockdale), WA Ski patroller 1 0
O 1/2/1992 Crystal Mtn, WA Lift skier 1 0
T 2/18/1992 Snoqualmie Pass (Denny Ck), WA Hiker 1 0
COST 2/29/1992 Mt Rainier (Fuhrer Finger), WA Climbers 2 2
O 1/20/1993 Snoqualmie Pass (Alpental), WA Backcountry skiers 5 0
O 2/21/1993 Crystal Mtn (Pickhandle Basin), WA Backcountry skier 1 ? 0
S 2/22/1993 Todd Ck (north of Mt Bachelor), OR Backcountry snowboarders 2 1
O 4/25/1993 Mt Adams, WA Climber 1 0
OS 2/15/1994 Stevens Pass, WA Ski patrollers 2 0
T 3/26/1994 Snoqualmie Pass (Bandera), WA Hiker 1 0
COST 7/23/1994 Mt Hood (Cooper Spur), OR Climbers 4 2
COST 12/17/1994 Mission Ridge, WA Ski patrollers 2 1
ST 5/20/1996 Snoqualmie Pass (Red Mtn), WA Climbers 11 0
COST 12/23/1996 Snoqualmie Pass (Chair Pk), WA Climbers 2 2
COST 12/28/1996 Mt Index (Lake Serene), WA Hikers 3 3
CNOS 1/18/1998 Blewett Pass (Lion Rock), WA Snowmobiler 1 1
CNOS 5/31/1998 Mt Hood, OR Climbers 4 1
CS 6/11/1998 Mt Rainier (Disappointment Cleaver), WA Climbers 12 1
O 12/2/1998 White Pass, WA Ski patroller 1 0
O 12/4/1998 Mission Ridge, WA Ski patroller 1 0
CNOS 1/18/1999 Shuksan Arm (Mt Baker ski area), WA Sidecountry snowboarder 1 1
CNOS 2/14/1999 Shuksan Arm (Mt Baker ski area), WA Sidecountry skier and snowboarder 2 2
CNS 1/16/2000 Crystal Mtn (Exterminator), WA Sidecountry skier 1 1
NO 1/16/2000 Crystal Mtn (East Peak), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 1/19/2000 Mt Herman (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 2/2/2000 Government Meadows, WA Snomobilers 2 0
? 4/30/2000 Artist Point (Mt Baker ski area), WA Ski touring dog (found 18 days later!) 1 0
O 12/10/2000 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Climbers 2 0
CNO 1/29/2001 Twin Lakes (Chelan County), WA Snowshoers 2 1
NO 1/30/2001 Alpental, WA Ski patroller (control work) 1 0
N 2/3/2001 Crystal Mtn (Kempers), WA Ski patroller (sidecountry) 1 0
O 2/12/2001 Mt Rainier (Cowlitz Chute), WA Climbers 2 0
N 2/17/2001 Crystal Mtn (Employee Housing), WA Sidecountry skier 1 0
CNOS 2/17/2001 Lake Ann (Fortune Creek), WA Snowmobiler 1 1
O 4/1/2001 Table Mtn (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skier (cornice collapse) 1 0
CNOS 4/11/2001 Mt Baker (Easton Glacier), WA Snowmobiler 1 1
N 11/24/2001 Mt Rainier, WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 1/21/2002 Stevens Pass (Tunnel Creek), WA Sidecountry skiers 5 0
N 1/21/2002 Stevens Pass (Skyline Ridge), WA Backcountry skiers and snowboarders 5 0
N 1/24/2002 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Hikers 2 0
N 1/27/2002 Gold Creek, WA Snowshoer 1 0
N 3/10/2002 Granite Mtn, WA Backcountry skier 1 0
CNS 12/29/2002 Crystal Mtn (Cement Basin), WA Backcountry skiers 7 1
N 1/12/2003 Mt Rainier (Golden Gate), WA Snowshoers 2 0
N 3/7/2003 Mt Hood Meadows, OR Lift snowboarder 1 0
N 3/29/2003 Granite Mtn, WA Backcountry skier 1 0
CNS 12/12/2003 Artist Point (Mt Baker ski area), WA Snowshoers 3 1
CNS 12/13/2003 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Snowshoer 1 1
CNS 12/17/2003 Navaho Peak, WA Snowmobiler 1 1
N 1/31/2004 Lake Ann (Fortune Creek), WA Snowmobilers 2 0
CNS 3/5/2004 Salmon La Sac, WA Snowmobiler 1 1
N 3/6/2004 Stampede Pass, WA Snowmobilers 2 0
N 3/7/2004 Morse Creek, WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
CNS 4/26/2004 Table Mtn (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry snowboarder 1 1
CNS 6/13/2004 Mt Rainier (Liberty Ridge), WA Climbers 2 2
CN 10/24/2004 Mt Rainier (Ingraham Glacier), WA Climbers 2 1
CN 1/12/2005 Snoqualmie Pass (Alpental), WA Backcountry skiers 2 1
N 11/5/2005 Table Mtn (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry snowboarder 1 0
N 11/8/2005 Mt Baker ski area, WA Sidecountry snowboarder 1 0
N 1/15/2006 Mt Hood (Terrible Traverse), OR Backcountry skiers 3 0
CN 3/19/2006 Tiffany Mountain, WA Snowmobilers 2 1
CN 4/18/2006 Mt Herman (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skier 1 1
CN 2/24/2007 Mt Rainier NP (from Crystal Mtn), WA Sidecountry skier 1 1
N 2/25/2007 Mt Hood (Clark Canyon), OR Backcountry skiers 2 0
N 12/2/2007 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Hikers 3 2
N 12/2/2007 Crystal Mtn (Northway), WA Ski patrollers (avalanche control) 2 0
CN 12/2/2007 Crystal Mtn (Union Creek), WA Backcountry snowboarders 3 3
C 12/2/2007 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Snowshoers ? 2
CN 12/18/2007 Mt Rainier (Edith Creek Basin), WA Snowshoer 1 1
CN 1/1/2008 Excelsior Pass, WA Snowmobilers 5 2
CN 1/4/2008 Lake Twenty-two, WA Hikers 4 1
C 12/28/2008 Harts Pass (Brown Bear Basin), WA Snowmobiler ? 1
CN 12/28/2008 Harts Pass (Tatie Peak), WA Snowmobiler 1 1
N 2/25/2009 White Pass (Hogback Mtn), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 2/28/2010 Crystal Mtn (Threeway Pk), WA Sidecountry skier 1 0
N 3/13/2010 Mission Ridge, WA Sidecountry skiers 2 0
N 4/3/2010 Mission Ridge, WA Sidecountry snowboarder 2 0
N 4/9/2010 Snoqualmie Pass (Kendall Peak), WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
N 4/10/2010 Granite Mtn, WA Climber 1 0
CN 6/5/2010 Mt Rainier (Ingraham Glacier), WA Climbers 11 1
CN 12/4/2010 Morning Star Mtn, WA Climber 1 1
CN 2/1/2011 Snoqualmie Pass (Red Mtn), WA Backcountry skier (cornice failure) 1 1
N 2/28/2011 Mt Hood Meadows, OR Ski patroller (off duty) 1 0
N 3/4/2011 Mt Baker (Grouse Ridge), WA Backcountry snowboarder 1 0
CN 3/5/2011 Mt Cashmere, WA Backcountry skier 1 1
N 3/23/2011 Snoqualmie Pass (Chair Pk), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
CN 3/27/2011 Stevens Pass (Tunnel Creek), WA Sidecountry snowboarder 1 1
N 4/3/2011 Stevens Pass (Rooster Comb), WA Sidecountry snowboarders 2 0
N 4/6/2011 Snoqualmie Pass (Mt Snoqualmie), WA Backcountry skiers 3 0
N 1/1/2012 Scout Patrol Peak (WSW of Snoqualmie Pass), WA Snowshoers 2 0
N 1/21/2012 Alpental, WA Sidecountry skiers 3 0
N 2/19/2012 Crystal Mtn (Dogleg Peak), WA Backcountry skier (solo) 1 0
N 2/19/2012 Crystal Mtn (Union Creek), WA Backcountry skiers 3 0
CN 2/19/2012 Stevens Pass (Tunnel Creek), WA Sidecountry skiers 4 3
CN 2/19/2012 Alpental, WA Sidecountry snowboarders 2 1
N 11/12/2012 Washington Pass, WA Snowmobiler 1 0
N 12/18/2012 Crystal Mtn (I-5), WA Lift skiers 3 0
N 1/15/2013 Snoqualmie Pass (Chair Pk), WA Climbers 2 0
N 4/13/2013 Stevens Pass, WA Sidecountry snowboarders 2 0
CN 4/13/2013 Snoqualmie Pass (Red Mtn), WA Snowshoers Several 1
CN 4/13/2013 Granite Mtn, WA Climbers 3 1
N 6/9/2013 Mt Hood (Illumination Rock), OR Backcountry skiers 2 0
N 1/4/2014 Snoqualmie Pass (Chair Pk), WA Climber 1 0
CN 1/18/2014 Lewis Peak (Mtn Loop), WA Climber (cornice failure) 1 1
N 2/14/2014 Stevens Pass, WA Sidecountry skier and snowboarder 2 0
N 2/22/2014 Snoqualmie Pass (Chair Pk), WA Backcountry skiers 3 0
T 3/10/2014 Crystal Mtn, WA High Campbell chair (destroyed during avy control) 0 0
N 3/17/2014 Mt Hood (Little Zigzag Canyon), OR Backcountry skier 1 0
N 3/22/2014 Colchuck Peak, WA Climber 1 0
N 3/22/2014 Granite Mtn, WA Backcountry skier 1 1
N 4/27/2014 Snoqualmie Pass (Mt Snoqualmie), WA Backcountry skiers 1 0
CN 5/14/2014 Mt Shuksan, WA Backcountry skier 1 1
CN 5/29/2014 Mt Rainier (Liberty Ridge), WA Climbers 6 6
N 12/6/2015 Stevens Pass, WA Sidecountry skier 1 0
N 12/17/2015 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake), WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
CN 12/19/2015 Snoqualmie Pass (Kendall Peak), WA Backcountry skier 1 1
CN 12/31/2015 Granite Mtn, WA Snowshoer 1 1
CN 1/24/2016 Mt Herman (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skiers 2 1
N 1/25/2016 Mission Ridge (Lake Marion), WA Snowmobiler 1 0
N 2/6/2016 Crystal Mtn (East Pk), WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
CN 12/27/2016 White Pass, WA Sidecountry skier (solo) 1 1
CN 1/4/2017 Crystal Mtn (Silver Basin), WA Sidecountry skier 1 1
N 1/4/2017 Crystal Mtn (Pickhandle Basin), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 2/5/2017 Crystal Mtn (Bullion Basin), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 2/20/2017 Table Mtn (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 2/25/2017 Lane Peak (MRNP), WA Backcountry skiers 5 0
N 2/28/2017 Washington Pass, WA Backcountry skiers 4 0
CN 3/4/2017 Hawkins Mtn, WA Snowmobilers 2 1
N 3/4/2017 Washington Pass (Cedar Creek), WA Heli-skiers (guide caught) 1 0
N 3/4/2017 Snoqualmie Pass (Avalanche Mtn), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 3/4/2017 Mt Herman (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skiers 3 0
N 3/5/2017 Stevens Pass, WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 3/10/2017 Hurricane Ridge, WA Backcountry snowboarder 1 0
CN 4/11/2017 Snoqualmie Pass (Red Mtn), WA Backcountry skier 1 1
N 1/24/2018 Mt Hood Meadows, OR Ski patroller (control work) 1 0
N 2/18/2018 Alpental, WA Lift snowboarders 2 0
CN 2/25/2018 Snoqualmie Pass (Cottonwood Lake), WA Snomobiler 1 1
CN 2/25/2018 Snoqualmie Pass (Source Lake divide), WA Backcountry skier and snowshoer 2 2
CN 3/3/2018 Teanaway River (Longs Pass), WA Snowmobilers 4 2
CN 3/4/2018 Point 7054ft (near Setting Sun Mtn), WA Backcountry snowboarder 1 1
CN 3/10/2018 Mt Baker (Park Butte), WA Snowmobiler 1 1
N 12/17/2018 Crystal Mtn (Bullion Basin), WA Backcountry snowboarder 1 0
N 12/18/2018 Crystal Mtn, WA Ski patroller (avalanche control) 1 0
N 12/30/2018 Washington Pass (Portly Basin), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 12/31/2018 Washington Pass (Delancey Ridge), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 1/19/2019 Washington Pass (Cutthroat Ck), WA Backcountry skiers 2 0
N 2/16/2019 Stevens Pass (Cowboy Mtn), WA Sidecountry snowboarders 2 0
N 4/13/2019 Goat Mtn (Mt Baker region), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 4/14/2019 Colchuck Lake (Aasgard Pass), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
N 2/8/2020 Shuksan Arm (Mt Baker ski area), WA Sidecountry skier 1 0
N 2/16/2020 Stevens Pass (Skyline Ridge), WA Backcountry skiers 3 0
N 2/17/2020 Mt Herman (Mt Baker ski area), WA Backcountry skier 1 0
Return to the Alpenglow Ski Mountaineering History Project home page

Copyright © 2002 Lowell Skoog. All Rights Reserved.
Last Updated: Sat, Oct 22, 2022 1:02:33 PM