The body of a missing snowshoer was recovered last Friday evening, bringing to a close a search that lasted more than three days. Kirk Reiser, 22, disappeared in a snow avalanche on the afternoon of December 18th as he and Troy Metcalf, 23, were returning from a day hike above Paradise. Metcalf searched for his friend until dusk, but was unable to find him. Rangers, mountain rescue volunteers, and employees of the Crystal Mountain Ski Area, who provided avalanche search dogs, began a full-scale search for Reiser on Wednesday. With Metcalf’s help, they were able to pinpoint the location of the accident, but heavy snowfall, poor visibility, and high avalanche danger prevented a thorough search either Wednesday or Thursday. Avalanche control measures were used to stabilize the slope during a break in the weather Friday afternoon and Reiser’s body was located under the snow shortly thereafter. At the peak of the search on Friday, 40 people were committed in the field, including 32 volunteers from mountain rescue units throughout the state. Local media interest has been high because both men are from the Seattle area and because avalanches have already been blamed for five previous deaths in the Washington Cascades this winter.
