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Authorities in Washington state revealed on Saturday that two men tragically lost their lives last week when an avalanche enveloped a group of four snowmobilers.
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office stated that the avalanche incident took place on Friday afternoon in a secluded area close to Longs Pass, a well-known hiking destination in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
“At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, four men engaged in backcountry snow activities near Longs Pass in northern Kittitas County were swept up by an avalanche,” the sheriff’s office reported.
The victims were identified as 38-year-old Paul Markoff from North Bend and 43-year-old Erik Henne from Snoqualmie Pass. According to Kittitas County officials, one of the men was partially buried, prompting his companions to attempt a rescue. The second man’s body was eventually located about four feet beneath the snow by a K9 search unit.
Search and rescue operations were launched following the avalanche that impacted four individuals on January 9, 2025, within Washington state’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Park. (Courtesy of Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies and search-and-rescue teams responded to the scene after two survivors, identified as Ian Laing and Patrick Leslie, were able to send a distress call using a Garmin satellite device, officials said.
The Northwest Avalanche Center, which arrived on the scene to help assess the accident, said one of the survivors was injured after being partially buried by the avalanche. The sheriff’s office told Fox News Digital that he suffered a knee injury, but characterized it as non-debilitating.
The other man was not buried by the avalanche, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
A K9 unit found a body buried four feet deep in snow at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Park in Washington state on Jan. 9, 2025, after an avalanche struck a group of people. (Kittitas County Sheriff’s Offi)
Responding crews reached the remote area using snowmobiles and carrying specialized equipment, according to the officials. The survivors were reportedly transported that evening.
Officials added that, after rescuing the survivors, conditions became too hazardous for crews to recover the deceased at night.
The following morning, personnel returned to the site with air support and three K9 units trained in avalanche search to help navigate the rough terrain.
A K9 unit searches for bodies in the snow after an avalanche struck four people on Jan. 9, 2025, at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Park in Washington state. (Kittitas County Sheriff’s Offi)
Both men were then airlifted to a search base and placed in the care of the Kittitas County Coroner’s Office, officials said.
The men’s personal belongings, including their two snowmobiles, were also recovered, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The Sheriff’s Office and KCSR (Kittitas County Search & Rescue) extend condolences to the families and friends of those lost,” officials said.