Tragic news out of the Alaskan backcountry where three helicopter skiers were killed in a massive avalanche that buried them in debris 40-100 feet deep.
The slide occurred Tuesday at around 3:30pm in southern Alaska near Girdwood. The guides they were skiing with used avalanche beacons to locate where the victims were likely buried but do to their depth, they could not dig them out on their own.
Additional recovery operations were hampered by daylight limitations and hazardous avalanche conditions. Alaska State Troopers issued a dispatch they planned to “to assess the area to determine if recovery operations can safely be conducted.”
Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends. Read the full statement from Alaska State Troopers below.
Alaska Department of Public Safety, State Troopers Public Information Office Statement:
Location: Girdwood
Type: Avalanche / Search and Rescue
Dispatch Text:
UPDATE 3/5 4:25 pm: Due to poor weather conditions in the area that prevented helicopter flights, Troopers, avalanche experts, and recovery teams could not assess the slide area for avalanche safety considerations and recovery options today. Troopers are optimistic that weather conditions will improve on March 6th to allow for flights in the area.
ORIGINAL: On March 4, 2025, at 5:10 pm, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers were notified of an avalanche near the West Fork of 20 Mile River near Girdwood. A preliminary investigation determined three adult heli-skiers were caught in a large avalanche around 3:30 pm. Guides from the commercial heli-skiing operation that the group was with immediately attempted to locate the three skiers. Using avalanche beacons, the guides identified a probable area where skiers were buried between 40 feet and nearly 100 feet deep. The guides were unable to recover the three skiers due to the depth. Due to considerable avalanche risk in this area and limited daylight, no further recovery operations were conducted on March 4th. On March 5th, Troopers plan to assess the area to determine if recovery operations can safely be conducted.
