In early March, a tragic incident made headlines when three skiers lost their lives in an avalanche while heli-skiing in Alaska. While the event garnered extensive media coverage, most reports didn’t explore the incident from the perspective of a backcountry skier. Although we aren’t experts and our knowledge is limited to what has been publicly reported by news outlets and the Alaska State Troopers, we aim to provide insights from a recreational backcountry skier’s viewpoint.
Cocaine of Backcountry Skiing
A few years ago, we had the opportunity to experience heli-skiing in Terrace, BC, which remains one of our most memorable snow sliding experiences. The distinct sound of the helicopter’s “whoompf.” The seamless ascent to the top of an alpine run. And the exhilarating, long runs all made the experience unforgettable. Just as quickly as we descended, the helicopter was already en route to pick us up. While the guides mitigated our risk, the speed at which we could lap terrain was surprisingly fast compared to cat skiing or traditional backcountry skiing.
Always Think of Who You Affect
We prioritize attending our annual California Avalanche Workshop as part of our preparation for the upcoming season. One particular presentation from 2017 remains particularly impactful. Richard Bothwell, former Executive Director of AIARE, displayed a slide featuring three women who had each lost a son in an avalanche. He remarked, “This is who I work for.” That statement left a lasting impression, highlighting the impact of such tragedies extends beyond the individuals who lose their lives, deeply affecting their families and loved ones. In this most recent tragedy, the three men involved were all fathers and husbands: 39-year-old David Linder from Florida, 39-year-old Charles Eppard from Montana, and 38-year-old Jeremy Leif from Minnesota.
What Happened
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, a group was heli-skiing in an area near the West Fork of Twentymile River. Around 3:30 p.m., a massive avalanche was triggered at an elevation of approximately 3,500 feet, with the debris reaching down to around 700 feet, according to a spokesperson from Chugach Powder Guides. The debris pile was estimated to be between 40 and 100 feet deep, and the avalanche beacons worn by the group registered depths of up to 45 feet, authorities reported.
Avalanche Forecast for the Day
As a backcountry skier, it is essential to check the avalanche forecast before heading out for the day. On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Chugach Avalanche Center issued the following forecast for the Turnagain Pass area:
“It will be easy to trigger an avalanche up to 2’ deep on a layer of buried surface hoar. This can be found at mid and upper elevations and will be more concerning where fresh wind slabs have formed over this layer. Active wind loading is expected to create new wind slabs as well as add stress to cornices at upper elevations. This weak layer is tricky to assess so the safest option is to avoid steep slopes especially wind loaded terrain.”
Quantifying an Avalanche
The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) has developed a size chart to assess the destructive potential of avalanches, ranging from D1 (relatively harmless) to D5 (the largest known). The forecast indicated that a large D2 avalanche was likely, meaning it could bury or injure people and travel approximately 100 meters (300 feet).
Historic Avalanche
Based on the initial report, the avalanche ran nearly 3,000 vertical feet, with a debris pile estimated to be at least 40 to 100 feet deep. While it may have had the length characteristic of a D3 avalanche, the volume of debris far exceeded what is typical for a D3. Given the scale of the debris, this avalanche could be classified as historic, with destructive potential more in line with a D4 or even D5 avalanche. Such avalanches are capable of destroying railway cars, large trucks, multiple buildings, and substantial areas of forest.
Deeper Than Forecasted
Based on initial speculation, it appears this avalanche triggered a much deeper layer than what the avalanche forecasters had anticipated. Could it have been a step-down avalanche, where the initial weak layer triggered a deeper, more unstable layer in the snowpack? Once the final assessment is completed, we may have a clearer understanding.
Human Factors Always Come Into Play
In situations like this, there are numerous variables that could contribute to what happened. While the snowpack is a significant factor, human behavior often plays a crucial role in such incidents. From personal experience, we’ve observed that many heli-skiing clients can be quite assertive especially when they have their own private helicopter. They are typically paying a premium for the experience and are often high-level executives, driven by the same ambition that helped them reach their positions. As a result, they often push for the steepest and most challenging terrain, seeking to maximize their time on snow.
If I Was Backcountry Skiing That Day
Backcountry skiing is all about risk tolerance. Some of my friends are ok with pushing the boundaries. But when I see “persistent slab” in the forecast, I go out of my way to give avalanche terrain clearance. That means minimizing exposure to avalanche terrain and following safe travel protocols. As my friends and I like to call it “Old Man Hippy Pow” terrain that’s less than 30 degrees and NOT connected to steeper terrain.
Freak Accident?
In the end, the avalanche was MUCH bigger than what was forecasted, and our hearts go out to everyone affected. To reiterate, everything that we’ve written is purely based on the information that was publicly available. Without actual details it is impossible to really understand what happened.
