Wash. hiker missing after sliding down snow face
Sunday, July 3, 2011
LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) -- A search is underway for a 21-year-old Tacoma woman who was hiking in the Aasgard Pass area of Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness when she reportedly slid down a snow face and disappeared.
Chelan County Sheriff's Lt. Maria Agnew says the woman's boyfriend went to her aid and heard her scream, but was unable to reach her. He saw a cut under the snow pack that led into a crevasse with water rushing under it, but no sign of the woman.
Agnew says a 911 call came in around 11:07 a.m. Sunday.
Aasgard Pass is located in the Cascades in the Wenatchee National Forest. It is one of two routes to the Enchantments, a most popular hiking destination.
She says Whidbey Island Naval Air Base has launched a helicopter to assist mountain rescuers. She says the rescue is considered highly technical because of the extreme terrain and location.
