Crime & Safety
Issaquah Man Killed In Crystal Mountain Avalanche
The man who died in a backcountry avalanche Saturday was a man in his 60s from Issaquah, officials said Monday.
ISSAQUAH, WA — Pierce County officials on Monday confirmed the identity of the man killed Saturday in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in the Silver Basin area at Crystal Mountain. According to KING 5, Robert Weisel, 66, of Issaquah died from blunt force injuries.
As Patch reported Saturday, rescuers were deployed to the mountain Saturday morning after witnesses reported that an avalanche had swallowed a group of skiers. Deputies said five of the six skiers were able to free themselves from the snow, and all were wearing avalanche beacons.
At 10:50am, we were notified of an avalanche in Silver Basin, a backcountry area at Crystal Mountain 6 skiers pulled from avalanche, 1 did not survive Deputies and medical examiner are responding Crystal Mountain maintaining normal operations since this was in back country pic.twitter.com/Wpx1kbGv0t
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 11, 2021
Unfortunately, first responders said Weisel was not breathing when they reached him, and efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
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KING 5 reports most of Crystal Mountain was closed Thursday due to high winds, and the area where the avalanche occurred was outside the boundaries and considered to be at considerable risk for avalanches.
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