A large avalanche in Alaska's backcountry pinned several skiers close to Girdwood, a resort ski area 40 miles south of Anchorage, Alaska State Troopers said on Wednesday. No confirmation of the number of affected skiers or their status has been made by authorities after the late Tuesday afternoon slide.
Skiing group unable to recover trapped individuals
The skiers were heliskiing off the West Fork of 20 Mile River when the avalanche hit, Alaska State Troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel said.
"The company they were skiing with attempted to recover the skiers but was unable to due to the depth of the snow," McDaniel said in a statement.
Troopers planning airborne rescue effort
Rescue crews are setting out to access the isolated avalanche area on Wednesday. Because of the terrain and conditions, a plane might need to be used to reach the area, which is remote from the Seward Highway, the main road that links Anchorage to the area.
The depth and extent of the avalanche are unknown, but authorities are giving top priority to a quick response to find and help any survivors.
Girdwood: A skier's and snowboarder's hub
Girdwood is Alaska's top ski resort, with the Alyeska Resort and Seven Glaciers Restaurant perched atop the surrounding peaks. Its backcountry draws experienced skiers and snowboarders but is fraught with the threat of avalanches every winter.
Avalanche deaths on the rise throughout the US
Between 25 and 30 individuals lose their lives each year in avalanches within the US, reported the National Avalanche Center.
In recent months, avalanches have taken several lives:
- February 22: A skier-triggered avalanche in Grand County, Colorado, killed one person.
- February 20: A snowboarder was killed near Silverton, Colorado.
- February 17: Three fatalities were reported, with one near Lake Tahoe and two in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains.
- February 8: A well-known outdoor guide lost his life in an avalanche in Utah.
Alaska rescue efforts go on, with officials in a rush to find the lost skiers against the backdrop of extreme winter weather.