3 Dead After Getting Caught in Avalanche While Heli-Skiing in Alaska

Authorities say three people are dead after getting caught in an avalanche while heli-skiing in Alaska.

The avalanche occurred on Tuesday, March 4, near the West Fork of 20 Mile River, by the town of Girdwood, according to a news release from Alaska State Troopers.

A preliminary investigation into the incident “determined three adult heliskiers were caught in a large avalanche around 3:30 p.m.,” authorities said.

Guides with the heli-skiing group “immediately attempted to locate the three skiers,” and used avalanche beacons to identify “a probable area where skiers were buried.” 

The skiers were believed to be between 40 feet and 100 feet deep in snow, according to the news release. However, the guides were unable to recover the skiers due to the snow’s depth.

“Due to considerable avalanche risk in this area and limited daylight, no further recovery operations were conducted on March 4th,” state troopers said on Wednesday, March 5.

The identities of the three people killed in the avalanche have not been released to the public.

State troopers said they plan “to assess the area to determine if recovery operations can safely be conducted” on Wednesday.

Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers, told the Associated Press that crews may need an aircraft to reach the spot where the skiers are buried.

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Girdwood is considered the skiing capitol of Alaska, according to the AP.

The town, which is 45 minutes from Anchorage, is “a world-renowned destination for skiers and snowboarders” and home to the Alyeska Resort, as noted on Alaska.org.