Skier Killed On Crystal Mountain Identified

A skier killed in an avalanche in an out-of-bounds area at the Crystal Mountain ski resort has been identified as a 54-year-old Burien man.

Stanley Lowell Quande actually died in a backcountry area of Mount Rainier National Park adjacent to the ski area.

The avalanche occurred shortly before 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon when Quande and a male companion, identified only as D. Currie, were in an area that was roped off and marked as permanently closed to skiing.

Park officials say that while descending, Quande was caught in the avalanche, and was carried along on top of it for several seconds before he disappeared.

Quande, described as an experienced skier who knew Crystal Mountain well, was wearing a transponder, which helped rescuers locate him. But he was unconscious and not breathing and could not be revived.

Currie was not hurt.