By: Richard L. Smith
A New Jersey resident was among three climbers tragically killed by an avalanche in Central Washington.
The mountain is close to the Cascade Mountains Village of Leavenworth, east of Seattle.
The accident occurred at 1 p.m. on Sunday at around 2,500 meters, Chelan County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Reinfeld said.
According to Sergeant Reinfield, a group of six climbers were on Colchuck Peak when the lead climber triggered an avalanche that buried climbers below them.
In a brief statement, Sgt. Reinfield said it appeared that the lead climber caused the avalanche by planting his ac and triggering the slab they were on to slide.
Officials say the victims included a man, 53, from Connecticut; a woman, 60, from New York state; and another man, 66, from New Jersey.
Sgt. Reinfield said the climbers died of trauma and not from being buried.
Image Courtesy: summitpost.com