JACKSON, Wyo. — A tragic avalanche incident in western Wyoming has claimed the life of one skier and left another injured after their group triggered a massive snowslide while ascending a mountain.
The avalanche occurred on Saturday in a backcountry area approximately 20 miles east of Grand Teton National Park. As a group of four skiers ascended a steep slope at an elevation of 10,400 feet, a slab of snow approximately 5 feet thick broke loose, resulting in a catastrophic slide that fully buried one skier and partially buried another, according to local rescue authorities.
Emergency responders were notified of the incident just before noon. Rescuers faced challenging conditions, taking nearly four hours to reach the site on skis after a helicopter attempt to reach the location was thwarted by adverse weather.
The region has experienced a series of snowstorms in recent weeks, including one on the day of the incident, as reported by a National Weather Service forecaster. This unfortunate event marks the fifth avalanche-related fatality in the United States this winter season, highlighting the growing concern for safety in backcountry skiing areas.
