In the remote mountains of Girdwood, Alaska, three skiers became victims of an avalanche after traveling by helicopter to a remote site, the Alaska State Troopers reported on Wednesday. This tragic incident might become the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. since a similar tragedy occurred in Washington’s Cascade Range two years prior.
Troopers, unable to reach the avalanche site, noted a grim outlook for the skiers’ survival. The avalanche struck the heli-skiers late Tuesday afternoon within the Chugach Mountains, around 40 miles south of Anchorage, according to spokesperson Austin McDaniel. Heli-skiers often use helicopters to access untouched backcountry areas beyond the reach of ski lifts, allowing them to indulge in skiing or snowboarding on uncharted terrains.
Guides from Chugach Powder Guides, the company orchestrating the trip, tried to pinpoint the skiers’ location using avalanche beacons. However, despite their efforts, the victims remained unreachable, submerged under extensive snow depths reported to be up to 100 feet. The treacherous conditions prevented immediate recovery of the skiers, who were suspected buried more than 30 feet under the snow.
Tracey Knutson, a spokesperson for the Chugach Powder Guides, confirmed that the victims were all men visiting from out of state, accompanied by a guide on a regularly used ski run. Witnesses described seeing the skiers attempting to deploy avalanche air bags, devices designed to keep them near the surface during an avalanche. A fourth group member was unharmed by the snow slide.
Upon the incident, three guides promptly sent out a rescue alert and initiated a response to the situation, Knutson relayed in a statement. Reinforcements arrived with more guides and helicopters, but the lack of adequate resources on-site delayed recovery efforts until safety could be confirmed. Unfavorable weather conditions the following day further hampered recovery attempts, with rain, wind, and fog descending both on the lower elevations and snow continuing to accumulate higher up.
The avalanche site lies approximately 8 miles northeast of Girdwood’s airport, along the Twentymile River. Andrew Schauer, the lead avalanche forecaster with Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center, highlighted the danger posed by unstable snow layers under newer snow deposits, which had escalated avalanche risk in the region. The forecast categorized the area at “considerable” risk for avalanches at the start of the week.
Adding to concerns, more snow and strong winds on Wednesday compounded the hazard, further increasing the likelihood and scale of avalanches in the vicinity. These conditions were expected to persist, posing ongoing risks even as the storm moves out.
Known as Alaska’s skiing hub, Girdwood hosts the Alyeska Resort, nestled beneath Mount Alyeska, offering breathtaking vistas of Turnagain Arm. The mountain boasts the esteemed Seven Glaciers Restaurant, renowned for its scenic outlook.
The U.S. sees 25 to 30 avalanche-related fatalities each winter, as per the National Avalanche Center. Alaska, following Colorado, ranks high in avalanche deaths nationwide, recording 172 fatalities since 1950. The Chugach Mountains have seen notable tragedies, including the 2021 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Czech billionaire Petr Kellner and others during a heli-skiing trip, and a guide lost to an avalanche in 2022.
Prior to this week’s incident, avalanches had already accounted for 15 fatalities across the country this winter, most recently in Washington state, where a trio of snowmobilers met peril, leading to one fatality and one injury.