Heavy Snow Causes Weekend Avalanches. One Killed, One Missing

SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. (AP) — Authorities in Washington state say one woman has died and one man is still missing after a pair of spring avalanches struck separate groups hiking in the mountains each of Seattle.

King County Sgt. Katie Larson said rescuers carried a female snowshoer off of Red Mountain in blizzard-like conditions early Sunday. The woman was confirmed dead at the rescue base.

She had been hiking with her dog near a group of a dozen other people when an avalanche hit Saturday.

A separate avalanche at Granite Mountain swept a group of three snowshoers more than 1,200 feet. Two men emerged, but a 60-year-old hiker from Kent, Wash., was still missing Sunday morning.

Larson said Sunday the search for that hiker has been suspended indefinitely due to the poor weather conditions.

The avalanches occurred as heavy snow fell near Snoqualmie Pass about 50 miles from Seattle.