An Olympia woman and Mountaineer member died while hiking near Snoqualmie Pass last week.
64-year-old Laurie Choate had gone up to a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail and spent the night there with a friend. On their way back on the Kendall Katwalk, Choate slipped and fell 300 feet.
Her friend called 911, and a helicopter from the King’s County Sheriff’s Office flew in, but conditions were too risky to reach her. Paramedics arrived about 20 minutes later, and pronounced Choate dead.
According to The Mountaineers, a local nonprofit group for hikers and those passionate about the outdoors, Choate was an active member and volunteer leader with the Olympia branch.