Hiker caught in avalanche uses cell phone to call for help

SEATTLE — A hiker who used his cell phone to call for help despite being at least partially buried by an avalanche near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state Saturday afternoon was found alive about 7:30 p.m. PDT.

He was dug out of the snow by rescuers and was hypothermic, according to a spokesman for the King County Sheriff’s Office.

He was being flown to a landing area at Bandera, Wash., to be checked before being flown to a hospital.

The hiker called using his cell phone Saturday afternoon.

On the 911 tape of the hiker’s 3:15 p.m. call, he said he was caught at the tail end of a long avalanche and was knocked 100 feet off the trail, according to King County sheriff’s Deputy Chris Bedker.

The hiker said that although he was stuck in the snow, he could see light.

From the man’s description, rescuers concluded that he was near the main avalanche chute on Granite Mountain, which is on the west side of Snoqualmie Pass.

Six rescue teams went in to look for the hiker in an area where the avalanche danger remains high.

Although the hiker’s identity was not released, the sheriff’s office says they know his name.

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