ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Several skiers have reportedly been trapped in the backcountry of Alaska following an avalanche, according to a statement from the Alaska State Troopers on Wednesday.
The exact number of skiers involved in the incident and their current conditions have not been disclosed at this time. The avalanche occurred late on Tuesday afternoon near Girdwood, a skiing community located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of Anchorage.
Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers, confirmed the incident in a text to The Associated Press. He stated, “Troopers received a report of an avalanche that caught multiple individuals who were heliskiing yesterday afternoon near the west fork of 20 Mile River.” The company responsible for the heliskiing attempted to recover those trapped in the snow, but their efforts were thwarted by the significant depth of the snowfall.
The specifics concerning the size of the avalanche and how deep the snow is remain unclear. As a result of the remote location of the incident, which is well off the Seward Highway, McDaniel indicated that troopers would be making attempts to reach the avalanche site on Wednesday. It is possible that they may require an aircraft to navigate the challenging terrain.
The situation is ongoing, and updates are expected as the authorities make progress in their efforts to reach those trapped and assess the overall circumstances of this troubling event.
