Skier killed in avalanche near Mount Baker identified



MOUNT BAKER, Wash. (AP) -- Authorities have identified the skier killed in an avalanche near the Mount Baker Ski Area.

The Bellingham Herald reports (http://goo.gl/QnD6sh) he was identified as 36-year-old Mark Panthen of Bellingham.

Authorities say Panthen and a friend had been skiing in backcountry area Sunday at about 4,200 feet on the north-facing flank of Mount Herman.

Benj Wadsworth of the Northwest Avalanche Center says it appears the two men got buried in a small slide when a larger slide was triggered.

Whatcom County Sheriff's Chief Criminal Deputy Doug Chadwick says search and rescue crews recovered Panthen's body Monday afternoon.

Sheriff's deputies declined to release the name of skiing partner, who was rescued and flown to a hospital. His condition wasn't available.

The Northwest Avalanche Center says this is the second avalanche death in Washington in the past four weeks.