The Alaska State Troopers have identified the three missing skiers who were buried under a massive avalanche in the state’s backcountry. The tragic incident occurred earlier this week near Girdwood, a resort town about 40 miles south of Anchorage, while the group was heli-skiing with Chugach Powder Guides.
On Tuesday afternoon, officials were alerted about the avalanche. The three skiers were David Linder, 39, from Florida; Charles Eppard, also 39, from Montana; and Jeremy Leif, 38, from Minnesota. A fourth person who was skiing with them survived but has not been named.
Chugach Powder Guides attempted to search for the missing men but had to suspend their efforts after an hour due to hazardous conditions. On Thursday, rescuers were still unsure if the bodies could be retrieved from the debris, which was reported to be up to 100 feet deep in some areas.
Troopers have expressed concern for the three men’s chances of survival. Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers, indicated that, based on the information available, they believe none of the skiers survived the avalanche. “The depth of the snow and the ongoing avalanche risk have made further recovery efforts difficult,” he stated.
This incident, if confirmed fatal, would be one of the deadliest avalanches in the U.S. in recent years. The National Avalanche Center notes that each winter, around 25 to 30 people die in avalanches across the country, with Colorado, Utah, and Idaho typically being the highest risk areas.
On the day of the avalanche, the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center had already issued a warning about the considerable avalanche threat at elevations above 1,000 feet. They later reported that multiple fatalities resulted from the incident in the west fork of the Twentymile River.
Heli-skiing is a thrilling form of backcountry skiing where enthusiasts are flown by helicopter to remote mountain tops to ski down. Contrary to popular belief, skiers do not jump from the helicopter; instead, it lands safely to drop them off.
Chugach Powder Guides, established in 1997, is one of the original operators of heli-skiing in Alaska and has long been a favorite for adventure seekers looking to experience the stunning landscape and fresh powder of the Alaska backcountry.
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Source linkAlaska State Troopers, avalanche, missing skiers, missing persons, Alaska, weather conditions, helicopter skiing
