A backcountry skier was climbing a Wyoming mountain Saturday when a group of people he was with were killed when a massive avalanche triggered a massive avalanche that buried them alive, officials said.
The four skiers were trekking up the remote Togwotee Pass on a skin track just before noon when a deadly avalanche occurred, completely covering Kenneth Gough and crippling his legs, according to rescue groups and news reports. Another injured victim was partially buried.
Rescuers faced difficult conditions and the rescue mission was not completed until nightfall.
Teton County Search and Rescue personnel first attempted to reach the scene by helicopter and snowmobile, but inclement weather made that impossible. Instead, a team of rescue skiers trudged to the area, arriving almost four hours after receiving the emergency alert.
Kenneth Goff, 36, of Lander, Wyoming, was identified as the deceased by the Teton County Coroner's Office, the newspaper reported. Cowboy State Daily. He is the fifth person to die in an avalanche this winter.
Volunteers worked into the evening to transport the injured skier to safety on a stretcher and quickly load him into an ambulance from Grand Teton National Park, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from where the avalanche occurred.
The group said Goff's body was also recovered and taken home in a skateboard.
“This is an important reminder of how long the mission will take if the helicopter stops, and is another factor to consider when planning for the backcountry in the event of an accident. ,” the rescue group wrote in a news release.
“TCSAR extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier.”
The avalanche occurred Saturday as severe winter weather battered much of the country, including a series of snowstorms that hit the Wyoming area in recent weeks, according to the National Weather Service.
with post wire
