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.

It appears to be the first fatal avalanche this winter in Alaska and the country's deadliest since an avalanche in Washington's Cascade Mountains killed three climbers in 2023.

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

Alaska State Troopers continue to search for three backcountry skiers who are missing after an avalanche earlier this week.

Minnesotans were in a group of skiers who are believed to be dead after an avalanche south of Anchorage this week, authorities have confirmed.

Three heli-skiers were killed by a massive avalanche in Alaska's Chugach National Forest on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The victims were buried by 40-100 feet of avalanche debris according to the professional backcountry guides with Chugach Powder Guides.

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.