This is the first avalanche fatality for the 2021-2022 ski season in the U.S. He is the first to die on Crystal Mountain since 2019, the resort reports. And according to the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) he is the second person to die in an avalanche in Washington state this year.
Washington State Trooper Steve Houle died after he was buried in an avalanche while snow biking in the Cascades west of Salmon la Sac Sno-Park.
Avalanche area designated “Black Diamond”
Silver Basin is a steep, large, bowl-shaped area just off the south end of the resort’s ski boundary.
Even when open, the area is designated as a black diamond. This means it is one of the steepest and most dangerous terrains. The ski patrol pays special attention to these areas. And uses avalanche mitigation measures. They often use explosives to trigger avalanches before skiers are allowed on the mountain.
Black Diamond areas are especially avalanche-prone. Increased snowfall creates snow shifting and collapsing into avalanches in steep terrains.
