Colchuck Peak Avalanche: Victims Identified, Recovery Delayed

LEAVENWORTH, WA — The Chelan County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday formally identified three climbers killed Sunday on Colchuk Peak, in what was the nation's deadliest avalanche of the season.

According to officials, a group of six was attempting to climb the mountain's northeast couloir Sunday afternoon when the lead climber triggered a slab avalanche, carrying four members 500 feet, leaving three dead and one injured.

The injured climber, a 56-year-old man from New York, was able to make the hike back with the two uninjured climbers, a 50-year-old New York man, and a 36-year-old New Jersey man.

On Wednesday, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison identified the three victims as:

• Seong Cho, 54, of West Hartford, Connecticut.
• Jeannie Lee, 60, of Bayside, New York.
• Yun Park, 66, of Palisades Park, New Jersey.

The Northwest Avalanche Center said the three climbers who died suffered traumatic injuries, while the fourth suffered injuries to the lower extremities. The two uninjured members of the group attempted to rescue the others but were unsuccessful, and further avalanches impacted the area after the initial event, officials said.

The sheriff's office learned of the accident Monday and its mountain rescue unit traveled to the site to meet the injured person at a trailhead.

In a news release, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said a seventh member of the group, a 53-year-old Maryland man, remained at base camp during the climb and hiked miles in the snow to report the accident to the authorities once the survivors returned.

Search and rescue coordinators developed a plan and gathered nearly two dozen people to assist with the recovery effort, including teams from Chelan County, Seattle, Tacoma and Yakima. The team determined avalanche conditions were too hazardous to reach the victims buried in the avalanche, and bad conditions prevented recovery teams from returning to the scene Tuesday.

According to The Seattle Times, rescue volunteers planned to reassess the scene Wednesday and deploy air resources later in the week to reach the site when conditions ease. Later in the afternoon, Chelan County officials said recovery teams were unable to access the site after two avalanche experts evaluated the hazards.

Further recovery efforts will depend on avalanche and weather conditions, the sheriff's office said.