Avalanche Strikes Near Anchorage, Alaska, Trapping Three Skiers, Officials Report

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Three skiers returning from a heli-skiing excursion are presumed dead following an avalanche in the Chugach Mountains. Alaska State Troopers reported that the men were likely buried under dozens of feet of snow and do not believe they survived the incident, which occurred late Tuesday afternoon near the skiing community of Girdwood, approximately 40 miles south of Anchorage.

This potential tragedy marks a grim reminder of avalanche dangers, as it could represent the deadliest avalanche in the United States since 2021, when three climbers lost their lives in Washington’s Cascade Range. Despite ongoing searches, troopers have faced challenges due to the avalanche’s intensity and depth, complicating recovery efforts.

Witnesses observed the skiers deploying their avalanche air bags just before the slide. These air bags are designed to help keep victims near the surface during an avalanche. While a fourth member of the group escaped the avalanche, guides utilized avalanche beacons to pinpoint the likely burial zone of the victims. Recovery operations were halted as rescuers determined the buried individuals were too deeply situated to reach safely.

The avalanche, characterized by snow deposits up to 100 feet deep, represents a critical concern for backcountry skiing enthusiasts. The Chugach Powder Guides, the company overseeing the ski trip, had previously outlined this area as a routine skiing route. However, escalating avalanche conditions have emerged, primarily due to a weak layer of snow buried below the surface, exacerbated by recent snowfall and winds.

Andrew Schauer, lead avalanche forecaster with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center, cited considerable avalanche danger at higher elevations on Tuesday and noted that additional snowfall and wind on Wednesday heightened risks for further slides. The forecast indicated that conditions would remain perilous even after the current storm passes.

Current reports indicate that Alaska ranks second in the nation for avalanche fatalities, with 172 deaths recorded since 1950. The U.S, on average, sees between 25 to 30 avalanche-related fatalities each winter. Just last week, another tragic incident occurred in Washington state, where a snowmobile rider was killed in a separate avalanche.

This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent dangers associated with backcountry skiing and the critical need for safety precautions in avalanche-prone areas.