The mud is relentless, but so are the slide rescuers

OSO — The mud is fighting back.

It covers bolt cutters, boots and chainsaws. It wants to swallow everything.

On the west side of the debris field left by the hill that fell on this community, rescuers Wednesday wore orange and green vests over jeans duct-taped into rubber waders. Their faces were grim, conversations quiet and hugs shared. They worked using tractors and shovels and bare hands.

The mud wants to swallow everything.

They are trying to take it back.

The whir of heavy machinery at the mudslide in Oso dominated everything. Backhoes dug, looking for life where most likely, only bodies remain. Black Hawk helicopters dotted the sky.

Blue mountains loomed behind. The mountains are always there.

Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary and Undersheriff Brent Speyer drove to the debris field so Trenary could check on his people, to make sure they were OK.

The rescuers have been out there around-the-clock since the slide hit Saturday morning, Trenary said. They need water, food, sleep — backup.

Their mission is focused on those who are missing loved ones. Identities of the known dead will become public soon, Trenary said, but only after teams of chaplains and deputies break the hard news to families.

“People are waiting. They deserve to have an answer,” Trenary said. “The hardest part is yet to come.”

A school bus carrying volunteers drove by. Military vehicles lined the road, surrounded by gear bags. The dress code for rescue workers had room for suspenders, camouflage and firefighter pants.

A man sitting on a stretcher smoking a cigarette covered his face when he saw a journalist’s camera.

The slide has knocked trees over, like toys discarded by a careless child. A creek flowed nearby, dirty brown mixing with gray.

Colors are all blended together in the muck. A black tire. An orange cone. Pieces of wood sticking up from the ground.

Four backhoes worked in unison, digging into debris believed to contain pieces of what used to be houses. Nearby, Highway 530 peeked from beneath a thick layer of mud that sucked at shoes. In places, the double-yellow line painted down the roadway’s middle could be seen.

Snohomish County Executive John Lovick stopped by to be briefed by crews. His face was drawn.

Days spent amid the destruction have worn at everyone.

After checking in with people, Trenary and Speyer headed back toward Oso, stopping at the fire station where the flag flew at half-staff.

Smoke drifted over from an RV, where insurance agents from Arlington were barbecuing for rescuers.

A woman with a miniature dachshund named Captain walked up to Speyer while he was checking in with motorcycle deputies who were at the fire station.

She asked the undersheriff if he wanted to pet the little dog, if he needed “some warm and fuzzies.”

Speyer leaned in toward Captain. He shared a story about his own little mutt at home.

There is still so much work to do. Crews are tired. Everyone is watching, waiting for answers.

Those who are digging and searching outside Oso know this:

The mud can’t win.

Rikki King, 425-339-3449, rking@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

South County Fire plans push-in ceremony for newest fire engine

Anybody who attends will have the opportunity to help push the engine into the station.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

‘Voter friendly’ election ballots set to go out for Snohomish County voters

Materials will include some changes to make the process easier to vote in Aug. 5 primary.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Kathy Johnson walks over a tree that has been unsuccessfully chainsawed along a CERCLA road n the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Granite Falls, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How Roadless Rule repeal could affect forests like Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie

The Trump administration plans to roll back a 2001 rule protecting over 58 million acres of national forest, including areas in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie area.

Edmonds police officers investigate a shooting that occurred at 236/Edmonds Way Thursday in Edmonds, Washington. (Edmonds Police Department).
Jury convicts Edmonds man in fatal shooting of rideshare driver

After three hours, a 12-person jury convicted Alex Waggoner, 22, of second-degree murder for shooting Abdulkadir Shariif, 31, in January 2024.

Jake Goldstein-Street / Washington State Standard
Angelina Godoy, director of the University of Washington Center for Human Rights, speaks to reporters alongside advocates outside Boeing Field in Seattle on Tuesday.
Deportation flights at WA airport up dramatically this year, advocates say

Activists also say King County officials aren’t being transparent enough about the flights in and out of Boeing Field.

Smoke shrouds the hilltops as the Bolt Creek Fire burns through thick forest in 2022 on U.S. Highway 2 near Index. Members of the public can now view video feeds from artificial-intelligence-assisted cameras placed in 21 high-risk wildfire locations around Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Online feeds from WA’s wildfire detection cameras are now available

Members of the public can now view video feeds from artificial-intelligence-assisted cameras… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.