An avalanche in western Wyoming over the weekend buried two skiers, killed one and injured another.
Teton County Search and Rescue officials said the deadly incident occurred Saturday afternoon at Togwotee Pass in the Brescia Cliffs area.
The two skiers were part of a group of four climbing a remote mountain about 20 miles east of Grand Teton National Park when they triggered the avalanche.
One of the skiers was completely buried, and the other was partially buried with a leg injury.
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On January 4, 2025, a massive avalanche at Togwotee Pass in western Wyoming killed experienced outdoorsman Kenneth Goff and injured another skier. (Teton County Search and Rescue)
An emergency alert for a known avalanche burial was issued just before noon Saturday, but it took nearly four hours for first responders to arrive at the scene due to weather conditions.
Teton County Search and Rescue initially deployed response teams with helicopters, snowmobiles and skis. The helicopter eventually turned back due to “conditions that made it impossible to respond from the air,” and the snowmobile team was also unable to contact the skiers. “Hard conditions.”
The team of skiers, wearing skins (fabric attached to the bottom of skis to help them climb hills), finally arrived at the party at 3:47 p.m. They treated the injured skier and used a stretcher to ski the person out of the backcountry to an ambulance.
Teton County Search and Rescue teams had difficulty reaching the group of skiers due to severe weather conditions. (Teton County Search and Rescue)
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They were also able to recover the skier's body and use the skier to remove it from the backcountry. Teton County Coroner Brent Blue identified him as Kenneth Goff, 36, according to the Associated Press.
Goff, a native of Lander, Wyoming, is an experienced outdoorsman who has worked as a nurse and on the city's search and rescue team, according to her resume posted on her portfolio website.
The Teton County coroner has identified Kenneth Goff, 36, as the skier killed in the avalanche. (Kenneth Goff / Portfolium webpage)
He has worked as a rock climbing instructor in various capacities since October 2011 and taught climbing and mountaineering courses at the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander since May 2017.
Goff is the fifth person to die in an avalanche in the United States this winter.
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“This is an important reminder of how long a mission could take if a helicopter is stopped, and is helpful in backcountry planning in the event of an accident,” Teton County Search and Rescue said on Facebook. This is another factor to consider.”
“TCSAR extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier.”
