Day/date: March 8, 1988




                              RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                                 FIELD INCIDENT REPORT

Incident type: Avalanche Fatality
Log number: 88-34
Date/time of incident: 3/6, 2 pm     Date/time received: 3/8, 7 am
Park: Mount Rainier     Location: Plummer Peak
Reported by: Mark Forbes, RAD, PNRO/Associated Press
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO

Summary:
P.B.L. and S.M. were skiing in the Plummer Peak area on Sunday afternoon when
P.B.L. was caught under an avalanche that was later determined to have been 60'
wide, 120' long and from 2' to 10' deep. S.M. probed unsuccessfully in the
snow for about an hour before skiing out and notifying park rangers. Two
rangers and two climbers attempted to return to the site with S.M. late
Sunday night, but had to turn back because of darkness and the high avalanche
hazard. On Monday, a team composed of 11 Mt. Rainier employees, 10 members of
local mountain rescue teams and three dog units began probing the avalanche.
One of the dogs alerted at a point near the base of the avalanche, and
searchers were subsequently able to find her body with probes.

According to the Associated Press, a high avalanche hazard was posted all day
Sunday after Paradise received 10" of snow on Saturday, bringing the overall
total there to 130". The avalanche hazard was still considered high on
Monday.

Persons involved:
Name                                 Address             DOB or age
P.B.L.                          Olympia, Washington          28
S.M.                            Olympia, Washington          --