2 Snowmobilers Passed Away in an Avalanche, 2 Others Were Saved Thanks to a Garmin

Four snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche in central Washington, killing two. The other members were saved thanks to a Garmin inReach.

Photo by: Garmin

By: Jonathon Klein

Jan 16, at 8:59am ET

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I've long preached the benefits of having a Garmin inReach device with you whenever you head out into the woods where cell reception is spotty at best. They are, in no uncertain terms, the one piece of gear I never leave home without. Why? A few years back, one literally saved my life while snowmobiling in the backcountry.

And that's a story that's eerily similar to today's, though one with a tragic note within, as while four people went snowmobiling in central Washington a few days ago, only two people exited after being extracted by Search and Rescue after an avalanche overtook them. They were rescued and were able to request for help, however, because they had a Garmin.

Again, always carry a Garmin or other satellite device. They can literally be life-saving.

According to USA Today, Paul Markoff, Erik Henne, Ian Laing, and Patrick Leslie were out in the Longs Pass trail area in Kittitas County, Washington, when the group encountered an avalanche. The outlet states, "Before the incident, heavy mountain snow had been impacting Washington state through the week, according to the National Weather Service's field office in Seattle. On Jan. 8, the weather service reported that 34 inches of snow were recorded on Mount Baker, 25 inches of snow at Stevens Pass, and 27 inches at Snoqualmie Pass."

It's unclear what occurred or how the avalanche was triggered, but due to the winter's general warmth, and infrequent snow, the base was likely highly unstable. And with cuts to the U.S. Forest Service, along with cuts of avalanche mitigation and forecasting, it's a recipe for disaster. Which is exactly what occurred.

"One tourer was not buried, one was partially buried and injured, one was fully buried and killed, and one was fully buried and is presumed dead," stated the Northwest Avalanche Center, detailing the deadly avalanche that took Markoff and Henne in the accident. It was later confirmed that the final member had passed away, and both men were removed from the mountain, along with their bodies, belongings, and snowmobiles. Laing and Leslie, however, were both rescued by S&R services, as they were able to send off an SOS using their Garmin.

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But it serves as a reminder to not only ride with others, but to ride prepared, i.e., with an inReach or other satellite messenger, along with an avalanche beacon, and an avalanche backpack that inflates to help you stay above the fray. Obviously, some avalanches are worse than others, and you can't control what's coming down with you, but being prepared helps mitigate those dangers, and an inReach can make the difference between a broken leg and getting out or a broken leg, hypothermia, and death because no one knows where you are.

My heart goes out to the families affected. Stay safe out there this season, folks.