Alaska skier rescued from second avalanche
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – At least one skier was caught in an avalanche Saturday near the site where two snowmobilers were killed by a slide earlier this month.
The skier was pulled out alive, but the extent of injuries was not immediately available, according to Megan Peters, a spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers. She said rescuers were out of cell phone range and details were sketchy.
Saturday’s avalanche occurred as searchers were trying to recover the body of one of the snowmobilers.
State transportation workers assisting in the recovery effort saw the avalanche Saturday afternoon and called authorities, who turned their focus to looking for new victims, according to troopers.
As many as seven skiers were believed to have been in the area of the avalanche, Peters said.
“We believe everybody is out, and everybody is safe,” she said.
Poor weather has prevented rescuers from recovering the body of Christoph Vonalvensleben, 25, of Anchorage, who was killed in the avalanche Feb. 15. Also killed was Anchorage resident Jeremy Stark, 25, whose body was recovered Wednesday by friends.
The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center has reported avalanche conditions were continuing in the area.
Saturday’s aborted attempt to recover Vonalvensleben’s body included plans to use explosives to bring down hazardous snowpacks for the safety of searchers, troopers said. Peters said she didn’t know if any explosives were actually used or what caused Saturday’s avalanche.
Troopers had warned that the explosives could trigger snow slides on nearby slopes and had urged the public to stay clear of the area.