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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan
<br />Kittitas County, Washington
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<br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 76
<br />Date Description
<br />December 13, 2003 One (1) snowshoer was caught, buried, and killed by an avalanche in Snoqualmie Pass.
<br />The victim was found on December 20, 2023.
<br />March 29, 2003 One (1) skier was caught and partly buried after an avalanche in Granite Mountain,
<br />Snoqualmie Pass. The skier was seriously injured.
<br />March 10, 2002 One (1) skier was caught and buried after an avalanche in Granite Mountain,
<br />Snoqualmie Pass. The skier was rescued by the partner.
<br />January 27, 2002 One (1) snowshoer was caught and buried in an avalanche in Gold Creek, Snoqualmie
<br />Pass. The snowshoer was rescued by own dog.
<br />January 24, 2002 Two (2) overnight campers were caught in an avalanche while in a tent in Source Lake,
<br />Snoqualmie Pass. Both self-rescued without major injuries.
<br />January 18, 1998 One (1) snowmobiler was caught, buried, and killed while high marking in Lion Rock
<br />near Blewett Pass, central Washington Cascades.
<br />4.6.1.6. Vulnerability and Impacts
<br />Life Safety and Health: Avalanches pose a significant threat to life safety and health in Kittitas County,
<br />as a result of the region's geographical features, climatic conditions, and human activities. Avalanches
<br />can cause serious injury and loss of life which occur, on average, annually within the County. Individuals
<br />that get caught in an avalanche sustain serious injuries such as fractures, head trauma, hypothermia,
<br />and suffocation as a result of being buried in snow.67F
<br />68 Although avalanches tend to occur in remote
<br />locations, Kittitas County is a popular destination for winter sports (e.g., skiing, snowboarding,
<br />snowmobiling) which exposes these individuals to avalanche prone areas. Although those that ski within
<br />the ski result boundaries, which have ski maintenance protocols, have a low vulnerability if they go
<br />outside these boundaries they become more vulnerable. Additionally, those working in mountains (e.g.,
<br />miners and loggers), recreational users (e.g., hikers and cross country skiers) remain vulnerable.
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<br />Property Damage and Critical Infrastructure: Most of the avalanche hazard areas in Kittitas County
<br />are uninhabited or has minimal development. Therefore, damage to property remains low. The ski resorts
<br />that are located throughout the County have a low vulnerability to avalanches because of ski maintenance
<br />protocols in place within the resort boundary.
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<br />Snoqualmie Pass (Interstate 90) is a critical transportation corridor connecting the large population and
<br />business centers of the Puget Sound with the agricultural industries and recreational activities of eastern
<br />Washington through the Cascade Mountains.68F
<br />69 Daily traffic through Snoqualmie Pass averages about
<br />31,000 vehicles (approximately 23,000 passenger vehicles and 8,000 freight vehicles) and volumes can
<br />increase to more than 58,000 on weekends and holidays.69F
<br />70 According to the Washington State
<br />Department of Transportation (WSDOT), in 2009, travel across the Pass is increasing at a rate of 2.1%
<br />annually and the number of vehicles to use Interstate 90 are expected to increase to 52,000 daily by
<br />2028.70F
<br />71 In the last couple of years, WSDOT implements avalanche mitigation (i.e., avalanche control)
<br />along Interstate 90. Mitigation activities include intentionally triggering avalanches on slopes above the
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<br />68 Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). Avalanche: Impact. Retrieved from
<br />https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Avalanche-Impact.
<br />69 Washington State Department of Transportation. (n.d.). I-90 – Snoqualmie Pass East Project. Retrieved from
<br />https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/major-projects/i-90-snoqualmie-pass-east-project.
<br />70 AASHTO. (2020). I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Keeps the Economy Moving, People and Wildlife Safe. Retrieved
<br />from https://benefits.transportation.org/i-90-snoqualmie-pass-east-keeps-the-economy-moving-people-and-
<br />wildlife-safe/.
<br />71 United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. (2009). Reconstructing
<br />Snoqualmie Pass. Retrieved from https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/julaug-2009/reconstructing-snoqualmie-
<br />pass.
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