Mercer Island Teen Likely Dead After Cascades Glissading Accident: Sheriff

CHELAN COUNTY, WA - A 19-year-old man from Mercer Island likely died in a glissading accident deep in the Cascades on Saturday, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office. The teen was hiking near Asgaard Pass Saturday afternoon when he fell into a hole and disappeared underneath the snowpack. The area where the accident happened is about 30 miles north of Cle Elum.

The state emergency management office was alerted to the accident via text message around 5 p.m. Saturday. Emergency responders - including Snohomish County's rescue helicopter - responded to the scene to search for the man. The search was called off around 8:30 p.m. Saturday due to darkness.

The man was with one other person on the mountain, and was apparently intentionally sliding - called glissading - down a snowfield when he fell into a hole.

The man's name was not immediately released.

Image via Creative Commons