An avalanche on John Mountain in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska resulted in the death of a skier and serious injuries to two others on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. The incident occurred as the trio of backcountry skiers were making their ascent up the mountain to then ski down.
The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center reports that the avalanche initiated some 100-200 feet above the skiers, extending across a 150-foot width and descending 700 vertical feet. The force of the avalanche carried the individuals between 800 to 1,000 feet down the mountain.
Clay Adam, Deputy Chief of Cooper Landing Emergency Medical Services, detailed how the skiers were engulfed by the avalanche. Despite valiant rescue efforts by the two survivors for their companion, 28-year-old Joseph Allen of Anchorage, their attempts to dig him out and then perform CPR were in vain. Allen was pronounced dead at the scene by the responding authorities.
The surviving skiers were airlifted to a nearby hospital, with serious head injuries that were determined to be non-life-threatening.
In the wake of the tragedy, Cooper Landing Emergency Services has reiterated warnings for those partaking in backcountry activities to rigorously check local avalanche forecasts before embarking on their journeys. They highlighted that, despite being equipped with the requisite safety gear, the group still encountered a fatal outcome.
On the day preceding the accident, the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center had issued a warning of high avalanche danger due to strong east winds and warming temperatures, which contributed to the hazardous conditions. The warning emphasized the increased likelihood of wind slab avalanches and advised against travel in such terrain.
In an effort to prevent future tragedies, local authorities and avalanche experts are delving into the specific conditions that precipitated this avalanche. Their goal is to refine safety protocols and raise awareness among backcountry users about the dynamics of snowpack and weather interactions.
The community, along with emergency services, has extended heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Joseph Allen, mourning the loss of a life amidst the rugged beauty of Alaska’s landscape.
