Body Found On Hatcher Pass In Alaska Presumed To Be Backcountry Skier Missing Since November

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Mountain Journey
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Body Of Backcountry Skier Presumed To Be Dr. Liam Walsh Who Went Missing On Hatcher Pass In November

Hatcher Pass, Alaska – On Wednesday, June 8, 2016 rescuers from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group and Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs conducted a planned body recovery search for a backcountry skier that went missing in November 2015. Search efforts had been unsuccessful until now.

Avalanche Debris - Pixabay
Avalanche Debris | Stock Image
The rescuers found a body during their search that they believe is the body of Dr. Liam Walsh, 33, who went missing at Hatcher Pass during a dangerous avalanche cycle. Walsh was last heard from at the Independence Mine parking area on November 22, 2015. After he went missing a 14-foot avalanche buried the Hatcher Pass Road for a week. He was presumed dead due to avalanche conditions and a memorial for him was held later in the winter.

The body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s office to confirm its identity and for an autopsy.

The 2015/2016 winter was the deadliest on record for Hatcher Pass. There were three avalanche fatalities on the pass including:

In somewhat related news, the YakimaHerald.com reports that a body was found near Kendall Peak north of Snoqualmie Pass. That body has not been identified yet, but could be Monty Busbee – the 43-year-old skier who went missing in December.

Learn about all global avalanche fatalities during the 15/16 winter season on A Mountain Journey.

Read more about the body of backcountry skier found on Hatcher Pass from these sources: