Tragedy in Alaska: Heli-Skiers Presumed Dead After Massive Avalanche
A somber cloud hangs over the Alaskan backcountry following a devastating avalanche in the Chugach Mountains, leaving three heli-skiers presumed dead. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon near the resort town of Girdwood, has prompted a temporary halt to recovery efforts due to hazardous conditions and has cast a spotlight on the inherent risks associated with backcountry skiing.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety confirmed that state wildlife troopers were alerted to the avalanche shortly after 5 p.m. local time. A preliminary investigation revealed that the three skiers were swept away by the powerful force of the avalanche at approximately 3:30 p.m. The skiers were part of a guided group with a commercial heli-skiing operation.
Following the avalanche, the guides immediately initiated search and rescue protocols, utilizing avalanche beacons to pinpoint the skiers’ potential location. However, the beacons indicated a grim reality: the skiers were likely buried under a staggering 40 to nearly 100 feet of snow. The sheer depth of the snowpack made any immediate recovery efforts impossible, forcing the guides to retreat due to the overwhelming danger.
Compounding the tragedy, further recovery operations were suspended on Tuesday due to the persistent avalanche risk in the area and the encroaching darkness. Authorities in Alaska had hoped to reassess the situation on Wednesday, with state troopers planning to evaluate the area and determine the feasibility of a recovery operation.
Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions hampered these efforts. Poor visibility and treacherous flying conditions grounded helicopter flights, preventing state troopers, avalanche experts, and recovery teams from accessing the slide area and formulating a recovery plan. Despite the setbacks, officials remain optimistic that weather conditions will improve on Thursday, allowing for aerial reconnaissance and the potential resumption of recovery efforts.
The avalanche struck in the west fork of the Twentymile River near Girdwood, a location known for its challenging backcountry terrain. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the slide area is situated in a mountain cirque, a remote and rugged landscape accessible only by air. The victims, all men, were identified as out-of-state clients of Chugach Powder Guides, a well-established heli-skiing company.
Tracey Knutson, a spokesperson for Chugach Powder Guides, conveyed the company’s deep sorrow and confirmed that the victims were skiing with a guide on a run that was regularly used by the company. She further revealed that witnesses observed the three men deploying their avalanche airbags, inflatable vests designed to help individuals stay on the surface of an avalanche. Despite their efforts to activate the airbags, the sheer force and volume of the avalanche proved overwhelming.
Adding a sliver of relief to the tragic narrative, Knutson confirmed that a fourth member of the group was not caught in the avalanche and was later safely extricated from the area. The identity of this individual has not been released.
Chugach Powder Guides, based in Girdwood, has been offering day heli-skiing trips for 25 years, catering to adventure enthusiasts seeking unparalleled access to pristine backcountry slopes. Heli-skiing involves using a helicopter to transport skiers to remote, lift-free areas, allowing them to experience the thrill of descending untouched powder.
The company has yet to issue an official statement beyond the information provided to the Anchorage Daily News. They did not respond to immediate requests for comment following the event.
In a chilling precursor to the tragedy, the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center issued a backcountry avalanche forecast on Tuesday, warning of the potential for human-triggered avalanches up to two feet deep on a layer of buried surface hoar. The center cautioned that the avalanche danger was expected to escalate on Wednesday due to strong winds and snowfall, which would add further stress to existing unstable conditions. The center explicitly noted multiple human-triggered avalanches on Tuesday, reinforcing the heightened risk in the area.
The avalanche center released a statement expressing their condolences and deep concern, stating, "We are sorry to report an avalanche resulting in multiple fatalities in the west fork of the Twentymile River yesterday afternoon. Our sincere condolences go out to the friends and families of those involved."
Tuesday’s incident marks Alaska’s first fatal avalanche of the current season, according to data from the National Avalanche Center. It is also the deadliest avalanche incident in the United States since February 2023, when three climbers perished in an avalanche in Washington state.
The National Avalanche Center reports that an average of 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the U.S. each winter. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center highlights that backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers account for a significant portion of these fatalities, underscoring the inherent dangers associated with venturing into uncontrolled avalanche terrain.
Prior to Tuesday’s tragedy, 15 people had lost their lives in avalanches across the U.S. this winter season, according to the National Avalanche Center. The most recent incident occurred on February 28 in Washington state, where three snowmobilers triggered a large slab avalanche, resulting in one fatality and one injury.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of mountain environments and the critical importance of avalanche awareness, proper safety equipment, and expert guidance when engaging in backcountry activities. As recovery efforts remain on hold, the focus shifts to supporting the families and friends of the victims and reflecting on the inherent risks associated with pursuing adventure in the wild.
