In the remote mountain ranges of Alaska, an unfortunate tragedy involving a group of heli-skiers unfolded when an avalanche swept them away, potentially resulting in fatalities, according to the Alaska State Troopers. If confirmed, this incident may represent the most fatal avalanche in the United States since a similar event in Washington’s Cascade Range two years prior.
The avalanche struck late Tuesday in the Chugach Mountains, a mere 40 miles south of Anchorage, near the skiing enclave of Girdwood. As described by a state trooper representative, it is believed that the three skiers did not survive the incident; however, access to the exact site hasn’t been feasible due to challenging conditions.
The group was participating in a heli-skiing expedition, a practice where helicopters transport skiers to unreachable mountainous terrains for skiing or snowboarding in untouched wilderness. The guides attempted to locate the skiers, utilizing avalanche beacons to pinpoint where the individuals were potentially buried. Regrettably, recovery attempts were hampered by the considerable depth of snow deposited by the avalanche, which reportedly was as deep as 100 feet, with the probable burial depth of the skiers exceeding 30 feet.
The skiers, all tourists from outside Alaska, had engaged a professional guide for their expedition, according to Tracey Knutson, a representative from Chugach Powder Guides, the company conducting the trip. Despite deploying emergency airbag devices designed to help keep them buoyant in avalanches, the slide engulfed them. A fourth group member was fortunate to avoid the cascade.
As soon as the incident occurred, rescue operations were activated. Despite rapid initiatives from on-site guides and helicopter support to locate victims through their emergency signals, the immediate retrieval was deemed perilous and inadequate for Tuesday’s extraction effort. Weather conditions on Wednesday further complicated matters, with adverse elements such as rain, wind, and fog precluding helicopter access.
Proximity to the avalanche site was informed as being approximately 8 miles northeast of Girdwood’s airport in a sector along the Twentymile River. Ahead of the avalanche, experts had been monitoring a precarious layer of snow buried beneath the surface, contributing to the elevated danger of avalanches—a concern highlighted in the forecasts.
Girdwood, nestled in the scenery of Alaska, is a popular skiing destination featuring the well-known Alyeska Resort. However, the area is perennially vulnerable to unpredictable weather conditions leading to avalanches. Statistics from the National Avalanche Center underscore this risk, with Alaska placing second in the U.S. for avalanche-related fatalities. Recent years have seen tragic incidents complicate heli-skiing endeavors in this region, citing past events involving deaths.
Prior to this incident, this winter had witnessed 15 avalanche fatalities across the United States. The last occurred in Washington state when a snowmobile event turned fatal due to a similarly dangerous slide.
