Adam Roberts, 31, of Bellingham Washington was killed by an avalanche while skiing with a friend out of bounds near White Pass Ski Area on U.S. Highway 12 south of Mount Rainier (about 1-1/2 miles west of the summit) according to The Bellingham Herald.
Kathleen Goyette, head of media relations for White Pass Ski Area, confirmed he triggered an avalanche Tuesday evening. Goyette knew Adam Roberts since he was “a little kid.”
“He was skiing with a friend. They had made a similar run earlier in the day. They headed out one more time. His friend took a different line, skiing down and out with no problem. Adam triggered an avalanche.”
Details of the rescue have not been confirmed but Goyette said that Ski Patrol found Roberts in 5 to 6 feet of snow. The White Pass Ski Patrol located Roberts after Yakima County sheriff deputies used a signal from his cell phone to identify a search area according to The Yakima Herald.
His body was found at an elevation of 6,000ft. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office declined to provide details of the incident until after an autopsy and coroner’s report are complete as early as Thursday.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Adam’s family and friends.
[photos from White Pass Ski Area Facebook ]
