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Missing skier was cautious but experienced, friends say

by JOE FRYER / KING 5 News

Bio | Email | Follow: @joefryer

KING5.com

Posted on February 3, 2011 at 8:39 PM

SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. -- Friends and co-workers of the skier who went missing and is now feared dead, said she was safe, cautious and experienced.

Friends identified the woman as Monika Johnson, 41, of Seattle. She disappeared after a solo back country ski trip in the Red Mountain area Tuesday. Authorities fear she stepped on a wind-blown chunk of snow, known as a cornice, and fell more than 1,500 feet.

"She wasn't somebody you would expect this to happen to," said Gregg Cronn, a close friend and ski partner. "She would always ask me, 'Do you think this is safe?'"

Cronn met Johnson about nine years ago while skiing.

"Every turn she made in powder, there was a squeal of delight," he said. "She was having so much fun and just loved being there."

Johnson, a Minnesota native, has been a physical therapist at Virginia Mason Hospital since 1997, a spokeswoman said.  She was close to coworkers and patients, and would often call to check up on patients after well after their therapy was complete.

A spokeswoman said coworkers were saddened by reports the search for Johnson was called off because of weather conditions Thursday morning,

"We are all really grieving right now," Cronn said. "She was one of the best."

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 8 of 8

ryanlurie said on February 6, 2011 at 1:07 PM

I've skied with Monika. I've seen the accident site. I helped retrieve her body. The only thing a partner could have contributed would have been a photo of her falling. Or an additional person to grieve for. There were countless footsteps scattered about in exactly the place where Monika was standing when the cornice collapsed. Please, people, speak to the incident and not to generalizations.

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lovesanimals said on February 5, 2011 at 8:09 PM

My deepest sympathies to her family and friends...however I find it amazing that these "experienced" hikers, skiers, etc keep going out by themselves. Maybe experience and wisdom aren't the same thing...I don't know anyone, experienced or not, who goes up in the mountains by themselves. Or into ANY backcountry. It's not a smart thing to do.

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banditrider said on February 4, 2011 at 4:14 PM

"She would always ask me, do you think this is safe?" I guess there was no one to ask this time. I think she's getting way too much credit for her backcountry prowess and she paid the price.

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treeclimber said on February 4, 2011 at 11:35 AM

THEY SAY SHE WAS WELL TRAINED AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED, MAYBY SO BUT SHE DID NOT PAY ANY RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO DIED BEFORE HER IN THE BACK COUNTRY, THEY BLAZED THE TRAIL BEFORE HER AND DIED... SHE LIKE MANY OTHERS TO FOLLOW WILL DIE IN THE BACK COUNTRY,, AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE SAID, THEY WERE VERY EXPERIENCED..THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO GO INTO THE BACK COUNTRY AND THINK YOU ARE INVINCEABLE REMEMBER MONIKA A LOVED AND RESPECTED ONE . THE NUMBER ONE RULE IN BACK COUNTRY IS DON'T GO ALONE UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE ALONE.

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freshair said on February 4, 2011 at 10:05 AM

What a tragic loss. Her experience may have been vast, but perhaps lost in the excitement of going out on a beautiful day she became distracted. It is a lesson all should remember; regardless of the plan always check the extended forecast your plans may change. I am sure she will be missed for she was admired, loved and cared for. For the ones who grieve, may they be able to continue to honor her by enoying the amazing outdoors. RIP Monika

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slugman said on February 4, 2011 at 8:18 AM

gruffmk: you are indeed "sorry". Your mean-spirited ignorance is shocking. You are completely lacking in common sense yourself, as possessing it would cause you to refrain from talking about subjects that you know nothing about. Not one word you wrote applies to this situation. Rather than do what most people would, call you an idiot then not say exactly why, I will explain. Her being by herself did not cause the accident, nor would having someone else along have helped her. She was indeed very experienced, not at all someone who just thought she was for bad reasons, as you assume. "Mother nature always wins" is an idiotic comment. Meaningless gibberish. Millions of people go out into the wilderness each year with no issues. "Mother Nature" therefore "loses" the vast majority of times, assuming that "winning" means killing someone. And she did not ignore a weather forecast, she has great weather. Bad weather moved in after her demise, so it played no part in her misfortune.

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ortsac66 said on February 4, 2011 at 12:13 AM

With all due respect to those of you posting...judging, whatever. She wasn't being irresponsible. It was an accident. Plain and simple. Very unfortunate and very sad. RIP Monika.

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gruffmk said on February 3, 2011 at 11:13 PM

With all due respect to those who grieve... It is incredibly disheartening to read comments on lost hikers, skiers, climbers, etc. who say "they were experienced". I'm sorry, but an experienced hiker, skier, climber would NOT be out there by themselves. They would not ignore a weather forecast. They would be "experienced" enough to understand avalanche risks. They would not creep towards the edge of Mt. St. Helen's, or ski along a shelf - because they would know, based on their "experience" that there is a risk of the edge failing. It's called common sense people. I pray for all of you who choose to believe that because you've hiked up Tiger Mtn 2 times, or that because you've skied in the cascades on a snowy day, or that because you climbed Mt. Rainier one time with 2 guides and 3 other beginners makes you 'experienced'. Mother nature ALWAYS wins. Don't let your 'experience' lead to your demise.

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