Deadly avalanche claims 2 snowmobilers in Washington state backcountry, 2 rescued

Officials in Washington state announced Saturday that two men were killed last week when an avalanche struck a group of four snowmobilers.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office reported that the avalanche occurred Friday afternoon in a remote area near Longs Pass, a popular hiking spot in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

"On Friday, January 9, at about 4:00 p.m., four men recreating in the backcountry snow near Longs Pass in the mountains of northern Kittitas County were caught in an avalanche," the office said.