Two Anaconda people died Sunday in an avalanche while snowmobiling south of here, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County officials said.

The victims were part of a group of four snowmobilers riding two machines in a popular area in the Pintlar Mountains about 15 miles south of Anaconda, in southwest Montana.

The slide buried one snowmobile at about 1 p.m., said Law Enforcement Chief Jim Connors. One person stayed behind, while the other rode a snowmobile back to the trailhead and drove into Anaconda to report the avalanche.

A National Guard helicopter crew from Helena spotted the person who stayed behind, but didn’t land the helicopter for fear of starting another avalanche, Connors said.

Anaconda-Pintlar Search and Rescue members snowmobiled in to dig out the bodies, which were recovered about 5:30 p.m., Connors said.

The victims were a man in his 60s and a woman in her 20s, he said.

The 100-yard-wide slide went about 150 yards down the mountain, officials said.