Ephraim, Utah – Despite a substantial rescue effort, an avalanche in central Utah on Saturday has claimed the life of a backcountry skier.nGarrett Smith, 26, was inspecting Horseshoe Bowl in the Manti-La Sal National Forest around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday when a cornice lining the bowl gave way, thundering over 1,000 vertical feet to the … Continue reading Avalanche Kills Backcountry Skier in Utah →

Mont Velan, Switzerland – Four backcountry travelers have been confirmed dead by Swiss police and rescuers on Sunday abandoned their search for a fifth following an avalanche near the Italian border on Saturday.nA total of 11 cross-country skiers and snowshoers, all believed to be of French origin, were skiing the 9,000-foot Croix de Tsousse peak, … Continue reading Four Killed, One Presumed Dead in Swiss Avalanche →

Ketchikan, Alaska – Volunteers have suspended their search for a snowboarder missing in the Alaskan backcountry.nMichael Madden, 35, went missing while snowboarding on Deer Mountain near Ketchikan on March 12. Authorities believed that Madden was likely swept up in one of three avalanches reported in the area that day. They further report that they doubt … Continue reading Volunteers in Alaska Suspend Search for Missing Snowboarder →

Big Sky, MT – Authorities are searching for a backcountry skier overdue from a ski outing near Big Sky.nSearchers are concentrating their search for Bradley Gardner, 24, of Big Sky, in the area of the slides on Chippewa Ridge of Lone Peak. Gardner was reportedly skiing in the Chippewa Basin last Wednesday on an overnight … Continue reading Backcountry Skier Overdue in Montana →

Wenatchee, WA – The Chelan County Sheriff has reported that a backcountry skier died Saturday in an avalanche on Mt. Cashmere’s southwest face, near Wenatchee.nDaniel Zimmermann, 28, of Leavenworth, Wash., was carried for 800 feet through a couloir into a small stand of trees above Trout Creek. While some of Zimmerman’s touring companions left to … Continue reading Backcountry Skier Perishes in Washington Avalanche →

Smithers (BC), Canada – An avalanche Saturday afternoon has left one backcountry skier dead and one missing near Smithers.nFoul weather on Saturday evening hampered efforts of rescuers to reach the avalanche site on Tom George Mountain, 30 miles northwest of Smithers in the British Columbia interior of western Canada. The two victims were part of … Continue reading B.C. Avalanche Leaves One Backcountry Skier Dead, One Missing →

Snowmass, CO – An unidentified 25-year-old man died Tuesday in an avalanche in the sidecountry adjacent to Snowmass Ski Area, the Pitkin County, Colo. sheriff’s department has confirmed.nThe victim, an Aspen, Colo. area seasonal resident, was skiing with two companions in Sands Chute behind the Sneaky’s portion of Snowmass when the avalanche occurred. The skiers … Continue reading Skier Dies in Avalanche Near Snowmass →