Alaska teenager dies in avalanche, the state's fourth snow slide fatality this month

A teenager died after triggering an avalanche at a mountain pass in southern Alaska, authorities and officials said, marking the state's fourth snow slide fatality this month.

The body of Tucker Challan, 16, of Soldotna, was recovered from the avalanche site Sunday morning by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, according to state troopers. Challan’s body was transported to the state medical examiner’s office and his family was notified, troopers confirmed.

Troopers said they received a report of a "fatal avalanche" shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time Saturday in Turnagain Pass, a popular winter recreation area within Chugach National Forest. The mountain pass is about 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, Alaska.

"A group of snow-machiners were riding on the backside of Seattle Ridge, which is northwest of the Seward Highway," troopers said in a statement. "Witnesses stated that (Challan) triggered an avalanche and died after being buried."

Challan's body was located in an unstable area, which delayed recovery efforts until Sunday, according to troopers. Avalanche experts have warned people of unstable conditions due to a weak layer of snow in the Turnagain Pass for weeks.

Saturday's snow slide came a day after the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center reported four human-triggered avalanches in the Seattle Creek drainage. No one was caught or injured in the snow slide, but the center observed signs of instability in the area.

Avalanche experts warn against dangerous avalanche conditions

The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center said in a preliminary report on Saturday's snow slide that it occurred in an area called the Warmup Bowl.

According to the center, the avalanche had been triggered by Challan who was caught and then buried 10 feet deep. The center noted in the report that the avalanche crown was 2 to 3 feet deep and about 500 feet wide.

"Riders from multiple other groups riding in the area responded quickly and managed to extricate the buried rider roughly one hour after the avalanche occurred, which is remarkably fast given the burial depth," the report states. "Despite that impressive effort, the rider was deceased by the time rescuers dug him out of the debris."

The center added that the debris pile was about 10 to 15 feet deep where the Challan was buried. Andrew Schauer, the center’s lead avalanche specialist, told the Alaska Public Media that Challan was alone whe the avalanche occurred.

On Monday, the center said the snowpack in the Turnagain Pass remained "dangerous and unstable despite calm weather." Due to these conditions, the center warned that a person could trigger a large avalanche.

The center also asked for the public's help by sharing information about the dangerous snowpack conditions at Turnagain Pass.

"The human-triggered avalanches that are occurring often have many tracks already on the slope and many are being triggered from below, above, or from the side," the center said in its backcountry avalanche forecast Monday. "The best way to stay clear of this problem and have a safe day is to avoid traveling on or below steep slopes."

Latest avalanche fatality in the U.S.

Saturday's incident came just weeks after three heli-skiers were killed in an avalanche in the Chugach Mountains near Girdwood, a small resort town about 40 miles southeast of Anchorage. Dangerous avalanche conditions were reported in the area at the time.

Avalanche beacons estimated that three victims were buried in the snow between 40 feet to nearly 100 feet deep. State troopers identified the three victims as David Linder, 39 of Florida; Charles Eppard 39, of Montana; and Jeremy Leif, 38, of Minnesota. Recovery efforts have been delayed due to dangerous snow conditions in the area.

Each winter, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the U.S., according to the National Avalanche Center. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has noted that most incidents involve backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers.

As of Monday, a total of 21 people have been killed across the U.S. by avalanches this past winter, according to data from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Several incidents have made national headlines, including two separate avalanches in Oregon and California in February that killed three skiers. Earlier this month, another skier was found dead after being caught in an avalanche in Utah's Uinta mountains.