By Robert Mittendorf / The Bellingham Herald
Search and rescue workers are scouring the Mount Baker wilderness for two Bellingham men missing since Sunday.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team, along with local volunteer organizations, are conducting an “active operation” for two men in their 20s, said WCSO Deputy Mark Jilk, who coordinates backcountry rescues.
Jilk said via text message the search is for the pair who “went out on snowboards (Sunday) who haven’t come out.”
Information on the names of the missing men and their exact location was not made immediately available.
The sheriff’s office just released a media advisory about the search Tuesday afternoon — officials said they received the report of two “overdue snowboarders” Sunday.
Undersheriff Jeff Parks said in the news release that according to the roommate of the snowboarders, the two men planned to spend the day “near the upper parking lot and be home by early evening.”
That was Sunday. Deputies went to the parking lot early Monday and found the vehicle believed to have been driven by the two snowboarders. Search and Rescue crews responded to the scene at about 7 a.m. Monday.
“The areas thought to be most likely to be used by backcountry skiers were checked as safely as possible by searchers with no clues found and no sign of the missing snowboarders,” Parks said in the news release. “The weather during the day created extremely hazardous conditions, heavy snow and high wind, creating avalanche and visibility concerns.”
The search was called off at about 4 p.m. Monday, and resumed at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Meanwhile, blizzard-like weather could hamper search operations — some 6 inches of snow fell overnight, Mt. Baker Ski Area reported Tuesday morning.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the area through noon Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Heavy snow is forecast Tuesday, with daytime accumulations of 15 to 21 inches possible with gusty winds of 20 mph. Snow is forecast for Tuesday night, with additional accumulations of 22 to 28 inches through Wednesday.
“Extreme conditions are expected to continue and will be evaluated for the possibility of further searching, however it is quite possible that conditions will be too hazardous to send volunteers out,” Parks said.
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