VERLOT — A Marysville man who died after heading into the mountains east of Granite Falls on Saturday was described by friends and co-workers as an avid, experienced outdoorsman.
Friends said Jack LaMont, 54, was a well-known member of the Everett Mountaineers.
In the climbing community, LaMont was affectionately dubbed “Jack Wabbit,” friend Forrest Clark said Monday. He was often faster than other climbers, but he always waited patiently for them up the trail.
“You couldn’t keep up with him,” Clark said. “He was in such good shape. He was a speed demon going up the hillside.”
LaMont poured his passion into climbing and shared that as a mentor within the Mountaineers.
He had gone hiking Saturday on 6,017-foot Morning Star Peak, accompanied by his dog, Shotgun, a blue heeler.
He told his wife which route he expected to take. She reported him overdue Sunday morning and a full search was launched.
Searchers found the LaMont’s body about 11:30 a.m. today, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. He was near the 3,100-foot level of the mountain in an avalanche chute. His dog survived and was at his side when searchers arrived.
On Sunday, mild temperatures increased the risk of avalanche so crews waited for daylight this morning, said Randy Fay, a volunteer with Snohomish County Search and Rescue.
Several other people had been snowshoeing in the area over the weekend, making tracking more difficult. The first search team struck out again at 6:30 a.m. this morning.
Later today, rescue vehicles crowded the side of the Mountain Loop Highway near the turnoff to the Sunrise Mine Trail east of the Big Four Mountain.
Authorities were investigating the exact cause of his death.
“It could have been an avalanche, but we can’t say for certain,” Hover said.
Beyond his circle of fellow outdoors enthusiasts, LaMont was well-known at the city of Everett, where he worked as an operator in the municipal wastewater treatment plant. He had worked for the city since 1991, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.
“The city family certainly has Jack’s family in our thoughts,” Reardon said.
Co-worker Matt Christie drove up the search area Monday. Christie had held out hope that his friend’s experience and know-how would pull him through.
“His home was up here,” Christie said. “He’s hiked these hills so many time, he knows these hills as well as just about anybody.”
In 2003, LaMont and his wife, Nancy, were the focus of news coverage after their climbing party was slammed by a storm while high up on the flanks of Mount Rainier.
LaMont attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Everett. Choir director Mary Schireman recalled him as smart, funny and spiritual man with a great voice. Everyone knew about his love for the outdoors, and it showed in his healthy appearance.
“He had that presence of joy and happiness and just a peaceful nature,” she said.
He was also one of the morning choir’s most dedicated members.
“If he wasn’t there, he was either working or on the mountain,” Schireman said. “That was as close to God as he could get. Climbing was very spiritual for him.”
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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