Skiers buried up to 100 feet deep in avalanche, Alaska officials say. 3 believed dead
Three heliskiers are believed to have died in an avalanche in Alaska, a law enforcement official confirmed.
The skiers, who haven’t been named, were swept up in the “large avalanche” at about 3:30 p.m. March 4 in the Girdwood area, according to an Alaska state troopers dispatch.
Based on information from the guide company the skiers were with, it appears the avalanche wasn’t survivable, said Austin McDaniel, troopers communications director, in a March 5 phone call with McClatchy News.
He said weather conditions hampered troopers’ recovery efforts that morning, but the agency hoped to be able to access the area soon.
The skiers were with a commercial heliskiing company based in Girdwood, according to troopers.
Guides from the company “immediately attempted to locate the three skiers” after the avalanche, troopers said.
“Using avalanche beacons, the guides identified a probable area where skiers were buried between 40 feet and nearly 100 feet deep,” but they “were unable to recover the three skiers due to the depth,” troopers said.
A spokesperson for the company told the Anchorage Daily News that the three skiers – who were from outside Alaska – were seen deploying air bags used to help prevent being buried. Guides picked up emergency beacon signals, but it was eventually determined the skiers weren’t recoverable, the spokesperson told the outlet.
McClatchy News reached out to the spokesperson March 5 and was awaiting a response. A person who answered the phone at the guide company declined to comment.
In heliskiing, skiers and snowboarders are taken to backcountry areas by helicopter.
Girdwood is about 40 miles southeast of Anchorage.
This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Skiers buried up to 100 feet deep in avalanche, Alaska officials say. 3 believed dead."
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