Alaska State Troopers say an avalanche swept up and buried three skiers under a blanket of snow that could be 100 feet deep in the Alaska backcountry
Three skiers were trapped by an avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, on Tuesday afternoon, with the Alaska State Troopers confirming their probable deaths. The avalanche occurred around 3:30 p.m., and while a fourth person in the group was rescued safely, the three skiers were buried under nearly 45 feet of snow. Rescue efforts were halted due to the depth and avalanche risks, with no further operations conducted as daylight waned. This incident highlights the dangers of avalanches, with 25-30 fatalities annually in the U.S., including recent cases in Colorado, Oregon, and Utah.
