A snowmobiling trip on Mount St. Helens turned life‑threatening on February 19 when an avalanche buried a rider near Shoestring Gully, according to reporting by Classic Hits 100.7 KLOG. Information outlined in that reporting aligns with details released by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office and updates from the Volcano Rescue Team.

According to those accounts, the slide occurred early that afternoon as a group of eight snowmobilers traveled in the backcountry south of the crater rim. Avalanche danger had been listed as moderate, with approximately two to three feet of recent snow on the mountain.

The group reported that one rider was fully buried under two to three feet of debris in a slide estimated to be roughly 100 meters wide. The man’s foot had become caught in the track of his snowmobile as the avalanche swept through. His companions used beacon and probe equipment to locate him and began digging immediately.

According to the collected reports, the group freed him after about ten minutes. He was not breathing when they reached him, but companions initiated rescue breaths. After three breaths, he began to show signs of life.

The group transported the injured rider back to the Marble Mountain Sno‑Park in Skamania County, where seven members of the Volcano Rescue Team had mobilized in response to the initial call. According to the reports, the rider declined ambulance transport despite what responders described as strong medical recommendations.

Late‑season avalanche activity is not unusual in the Mount St. Helens backcountry, particularly following rapid snow accumulation. Regional rescue teams and land managers routinely urge backcountry users to carry beacons, probes, and shovels, and to check current avalanche forecasts before traveling into loaded terrain.

Why this matters

The Shoestring Gully area is a frequent destination for winter recreationists from Cowlitz and Lewis counties. Avalanche incidents in this zone, even when survivable, highlight the speed at which conditions can deteriorate and the degree to which survival often depends on immediate action by companions. Local agencies consistently emphasize that self‑rescue remains the most effective life‑saving measure in remote terrain where professional responders may take time to reach the scene.

Sources

Classic Hits 100.7 KLOG: Snowmobiler Buried by Avalanche on Mt. St. Helens