Crevasse Fall Kills Mt. Baker Climber

BELLINGHAM

A Bainbridge Island man was killed in a climbing accident on Mount Baker when he fell into a crevasse.

The victim was identified as Thomas Knudsen, 39. Snohomish County Sheriff's Deputy Dean Sandell said Knudsen was buried in snow Saturday when he and two other climbers who were roped together fell into a crevasse. A fourth person on the rope did not fall.

The two others who fell in were able to dig free, but by the time they dug Knudsen out he was dead. The body was recovered yesterday by sheriff's deputies using a helicopter.

Sandell said the accident took place at Deming Glacier, at the 9,700-foot level of the 10,775-foot peak.