A trio of skiers is likely buried under an avalanche near Anchorage, Alaska, that occurred Tuesday afternoon, but dangerous backcountry conditions have so far stymied recovery operations, officials announced.

Multiple heli-skiers were trapped in an avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, on Tuesday afternoon, and a search effort is underway to rescue them despite deep snow complicating recovery efforts

Three people are feared to be dead after being buried by a large avalanche while on a guided heli-skiing trip near Girdwood, Alaska, authorities said. (Dreamstime) Three skiers identified Thursday as feared killed in an Alaskan avalanche had Minnesota connections.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers said an avalanche buried three skiers under a blanket of snow between 40 and 100 feet deep in a small resort town.

Authorities have identified three men who died Tuesday after being buried by a massive avalanche during a guided heli-skiing trip in the Chugach Mountains near Girdwood. The Alaska State Troopers on Thursday said the men were 39-year-old David Linder, of Florida; 39-year-old Charles Eppard, of Montana; and 38-year-old Jeremy Leif, of Minnesota.

This is Alaska’s first fatal avalanche reported this season. It is also the country’s deadliest since February 2023.

Officials at the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center have confirmed that three skiers on a heli-skiing tour died in an avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, southeast of Anchorage, this week. The avalanche occurred on March 4 at about 3:30 pm.

A radio station owner and his two friends were killed after heli-skiing onto a rugged Alaskan mountain and getting trapped in a massive avalanche on Tuesday. David Linder, 39, Charles Eppard, 39, and Jeremy Leif,

Dangerous avalanche conditions in the area persist, stalling recovery efforts and prompting warnings from forecasters.