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Tragedy in Alaska -

In early March 2025, three skiers were swept away by a huge avalanche in Alaska's Chugach Mountains.

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Huge avalanche -

The fatal landslide occurred in the Chugach National Forest near the resort town of Girdwood.

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Flown in by helicopter -

The Chugach range is remote and the three men were flown in by helicopter as part of a commercially guided trip, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

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What is heli-skiing? -

Heli-skiing is off-trail downhill skiing or snowboarding where the skier reaches the top of the mountain by helicopter, instead of via ski lift.

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Adventurous, but dangerous -

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Risks involved in heli-skiing -

The fact that it's undertaken in uncontrolled backcountry in rarely patrolled wilderness appeals to exponents of extreme winter sports.

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Avalanche danger -

The trade-off when skiing on pristine ungroomed slopes, however, is heightened avalanche risk.

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Remote terrain -

The more remote the mountains, the less likelihood of potential ski runs undergoing controlled blasting to minimize the risk of a landslide.

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Safety measures adhered to -

The three skiers who died in Alaska were caught and buried on a run that the heli-operation they were using frequents. According to eye-witness reports, all three deployed their avalanche airbags once the slide began.

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Ever-present menace -

The tragedy illustrates the fact that even the most professional and safety-conscious of heli-skiing operations can fall foul to an avalanche.

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History of heli-skiing -

Heli-skiing took off in the late 1950s when helicopters were used in Alaska and Europe to access remote terrain.

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Commercial operations -

The activity quickly became popular in Canada, where heli-skiing was first commercialized.

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Growth of heli-skiing -

The biggest growth in heli-skiing was in the 1970s and '80s, when operations sprang up in North America and across the European Alps.

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High standards of safety -

Heli-skiing operations conform to very high standards of safety. The industry is regulated through organizations such as the Heli-Ski U.S. Association, which follows a set of heli-skiing safety and operating guidelines.

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Operational procedures -

These operating procedures include measures to share avalanche forecasting information and implementation of avalanche risk reduction strategies. But accidents do still happen.

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Accidents still happen -

Besides running the risk of an avalanche, heli-skiers need to be aware of other dangers.

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Follow the guidelines -

Successfully enjoying the use of a heli-skiing operation is obviously dependent on the skill of the pilot and air worthiness of the helicopter.

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Things not to do -

Heli-skiers should never hit the slopes alone. Venturing out in groups is always recommended, as is using the services of a qualified guide with expert knowledge of the area who has already tested the snowpack to make sure it's safe.

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Respect the terrain -

The terrain itself can also be dangerous. Hazards include tree wells, hidden crevasses, unmarked cliff bands, and unidentified creeks.

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Don't get lost -

Losing sight of your group and getting lost is another risk factor to take into consideration.

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The drop-off -

A common misconception is that a skier is obliged to jump off the helicopter while it is still airborne. Typically, however, the chopper has a predetermined drop-off location where it lands and allows all members to safely exit the machine.

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Rescue attempt -

The guides with the three skiers who died were able to locate signals from avalanche beacons, with the lowest signal coming around 45 feet (14 meters) deep.

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"Unrecoverable" -

An hour later, it was determined "the victims were clearly unrecoverable" given the guides' resources, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

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Why avalanches kill -

People caught in an avalanche can succumb to suffocation, trauma, and/or hypothermia. Often it's a combination of all three. Pictured is a individual taking part in an avalanche search and rescue training session.

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Search and rescue -

A high percentage of deaths, however, are a result of asphyxiation, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Therefore, most victims are alive in the post-avalanche period and have the potential for live recovery. Pictured is an avalanche dog, rescuers, and trackers taking part in a search and rescue exercise.

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Where is heli-skiing banned? -

Some countries have banned heli-skiing, including France and Germany. But there are several heli-ski hot spots around the world that still lure the more adventurous winter sports enthusiast.

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Heli-skiing hot spots -

Besides the Chugach range, Alaska's Tordrillo Mountains offer endless terrain options to keep skiers challenged.

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Canada -

In Canada's British Colombia province, Bella Coola, Mica, and Revelstoke rank among favorite heli-ski destinations.

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Japan -

In the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan, helicopters can whisk skiers to the summits of dormant volcanoes.

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Switzerland -

And in Europe, skiers can experience ungroomed runs near the summit of western Europe's second highest mountain, the Monte Rosa.

Sources: (Anchorage Daily News) (BBC) (CNN) (Alaska Public Media) (Associated Press) (Heli-Ski U.S. Association) (NIH) 

See also: Massive avalanche kills eight in the Himalayas

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