Search-and-rescue crews responded to Mount St. Helens on Feb. 19 after an avalanche partially buried a snowmobiler near Shoestring Gully, a high‑elevation area on the mountain’s south side where shifting winter conditions often increase slide risk. According to reporting by The Reflector, the Volcano Rescue Team (VRT) was dispatched shortly before 1 p.m. to an elevation of roughly 5,800 feet following reports that a rider had been trapped by snow debris.

Details released through that reporting indicate that rescuers located the individual and were able to extract them from the slide area. No additional injuries or fatalities were reported in connection with the incident. The VRT, a volunteer unit based in Clark and Cowlitz counties, routinely responds to avalanche activity and backcountry emergencies on Mount St. Helens, which remains an increasingly popular winter recreation destination.

Local emergency managers consistently urge riders and hikers to monitor avalanche forecasts, carry transceivers and rescue gear, and remain aware of terrain traps such as gullies and steep snowfields. Shoestring Gully, where the Feb. 19 slide occurred, is known for variable winter conditions that can shift quickly with weather changes.

Why this matters

Southwest Washington rescue teams rely heavily on trained volunteers to respond to incidents on Mount St. Helens and throughout the Cascade foothills. Each callout — including this February rescue — underscores the operational demands placed on local responders when winter recreation increases. For Cowlitz County residents, the incident serves as a reminder of both the risks associated with backcountry travel and the essential role regional teams play in emergency response.

Sources

The Reflector: Volcano Rescue Team: Snowmobiler rescued by after being trapped in an avalanche on Mount St. Helens