A 60 year-old man is dead after an avalanche on Alaska’s Hatcher Pass struck him and his group last Wednesday on Marmot Mountain reports KTUU.
Randy Bergt, a former engineer with Anchorage’s public transportation department, was skiing with two friends at the time of the slide. During the descent, Bergt became caught in the avalanche and was ultimately carried into a terrain trap where he was buried under roughly 4 feet of snow and debris.
“Randy was a very experienced backcountry skier who will be sorely missed. “ – Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center
His partners quickly broke out their beacons and using probes, located their friend’s body. They attempted to resuscitate the victim but those efforts were unsuccessful. The avalanche bulletin at the time of the fatality warned of considerable danger above 3,500′. The skiers began their descent at approximately 3,600′.
Avalanche conditions are "considerable" this weekend in Hatcher Pass after sustained winds have overloaded the snow pack, Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center says. https://t.co/f3HgM4OdqE
— Alaska's News Source (@AKNewsNow) November 25, 2017
Bergt, who had also been a ski patroller at Alta, was a fixture amongst the Anchorage nordic and backcountry ski communities. A nordic trail near Hilltop Ski Area has since been renamed to honor Bergt. The trail will be known as “Randy’s Trail.”
*Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s friends and family
Incident Report [Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center]
Randy Bergt was killed in a human triggered avalanche, HS-ASu-R3D2-O, in the President’s Ridge area of Marmot Mountain. The avalanche occurred at approximately 3700′ on a SSW aspect that was previously wind loaded. The avalanche was approximately 150′ wide X 800′ long. The crown varied greatly, from 6″ to 24″ deep. This avalanche failed on a persistent weak layer of near surface facets. More information here. The hazard of this avalanche was compounded by rocks in the path as well as a terrain trap in the runout.
Randy was a very experienced backcountry skier who will be sorely missed. We send our condolences to family, friends and the community. Words cannot express this loss.
Find the entire KTUU article here: Anchorage ski community mourns man killed in Hatcher Pass avalanche