205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 04/04/2022 - The late-season storm that brought heavy snow to the Cascades this weekend created high avalanche risks in parts of Kittitas County, and highlights the need for avalanche awareness and preparation. Winter recreators at popular Kittitas County Sno-Parks have had access to an important new tool for avalanche preparation and awareness for the past month, all started by the sad loss of a Washington State Trooper in an accident last year.
On February 8, 2021, Washington State Trooper and long-time Kittitas County resident Steve Houle was caught and buried in an avalanche while snow-biking in the French Cabin Creek area, north of Cle Elum. Deputies from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office and volunteers with Kittitas County Search and Rescue (KCSR) rode into the steep, remote backcountry where Steve’s riding partner showed them what happened. After hours of searching with probes and canines, Trooper Houle’s body was recovered and escorted home to his family. In the aftermath of their tragic loss, the Houle family joined in generous partnership with KCSR to purchase and erect four Avalanche Beacon Boards for the heavily used Sno-parks at French Cabin Creek, Cooper River, 29 Pines and Crystal Springs Sno-parks. The boards were completed and installed last month. The seasonal Beacon Boards will be taken down later this month and reinstalled each winter. They’re solar powered and activate automatically upon when they sense nearby motion. Using a lighted display, they show winter recreation users whether their avalanche beacon is transmitting properly. The boards also direct users to updated avalanche conditions and forecasts from the Northwest Avalanche Center (nwac.us) and remind them of basic avalanche safety practices and equipment. Each of the donated Beacon Boards reads, “In Memory of Steve Houle – WSP 1168”—memorializing Steve’s badge number with the Washington State Patrol. Both KCSR and the Houle family hope these boards and Steve’s memory will raise awareness of avalanche hazards and the steps winter recreators can take to stay safe when in slide-prone areas. For the most current avalance conditions and forecasts, visit the Northwest Avalanche Center at nwac.us
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Chris Whitsett509-962-7525christopher.whitsett@co.kittitas.wa.us