ANCHORAGE — An avalanche in Alaska backcountry swept up and buried three skiers under a blanket of snow as deep as a 10-story building, Alaska State Troopers said Wednesday.
On Thursday, the three men were identified by the Alaska Department of Public Safety as:
- David Linder, 39 of Florida
- Charles Eppard 39, of Montana
- Jeremy Leif, 38, of Minnesota
Troopers, avalanche, and recovery experts will attempt to conduct an aerial assessment of the slide area today to determine additional avalanche danger and recovery options.
The avalanche is the deadliest in the nation since three climbers were killed in a slide in Washington’s Cascade Mountains two years ago.
The slide happened late Tuesday afternoon near the skiing community of Girdwood, located about 40 miles south of Anchorage.
Guides from a heli-skiing company attempted to locate the skiers. Using avalanche beacons, the guides identified a probable area where the skiers were buried, at a depth of 40 feet to 100 feet.
