An avalanche on Tuesday afternoon near Girdwood, Alaska, killed three heli-skiers. The avalanche was massive and swept the skiers away.
Alaska State Troopers reported that the skiers were part of a commercial heliskiing operation, Chugach Powder Guides. Rescue attempts were made, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. The ski guides used avalanche beacons to locate the skiers.
They found the skiers buried between 40 and 100 feet below the surface. Recovery efforts were suspended on Tuesday due to the high avalanche risk and loss of daylight.
The suspension of recovery efforts has raised concerns among the families of the missing skiers. They are eagerly awaiting news about the fate of their loved ones. The Alaska State Troopers are working closely with the families to provide them with updates on the situation.
Andrew Schauer, Lead Avalanche Forecaster, warned that conditions were dangerous. Schauer explained that a weak snow layer formed in early February and has been buried by smaller storms, making it prone to avalanches.
Meanwhile, the avalanche danger is expected to rise as the next storm builds into South Central. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of avalanches.
Furthermore, the Alaska State Troopers are working to assess whether they can safely pursue recovery attempts. The troopers do not believe that any of the three missing persons survived the avalanche.
In addition, the incident has raised concerns about avalanche safety. The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center has issued warnings about the dangers of avalanches in the area.
The center has also guided how to stay safe in avalanche-prone areas. This includes checking the avalanche forecast before heading out and being aware of the signs of an avalanche.
The avalanche near Girdwood was a tragic incident that claimed the lives of three heli-skiers. The avalanche near Girdwood serves as a reminder of the importance of avalanche safety.
News story originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
