Two Alaska skiers die in an avalanche in Haines Pass

Haines in May 2013.
Haines in May 2013. (Creative Commons photo by Bruce Barrett)

Updated at 12:30 p.m.

Two men from Haines are dead after they were caught in an avalanche Monday afternoon. It happened in the Haines Pass area, just across the border in British Columbia. A third person, a teenager, survived.

Haines Borough Manager Debra Schnabel said the three men were near the entrance to the Chuck Creek Trail when the avalanche hit.

According to a media release from the Haines Volunteer Fire Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police picked up a signal from an emergency locator beacon at about 1:40 p.m.  Canadian authorities flew to the scene by helicopter.

They found Izak Miller, who is 16, alive. Zane Durr and Matthew Green, both 21-years-old, were killed.

Schnabel says the community of about 2,400 people is devastated by the tragedy.

“They are just so painfully aware of the community’s heaviness at this time,” she said. “These three boys are connected to families – They’re interconnected among themselves, but they are also onto themselves families that have a long history in the community.”

Many community members went to a prayer service Tuesday morning at a local church.

Location of avalanche has been corrected to British Columbia instead of Yukon.

 

Original story

Two skiers from from Haines died and a third was rescued after an avalanche in Haines Pass on Dec. 30.

Haines Borough Manager Debra Schnabel said Zane Durr and Matthew Green, both 21, died. While Izak Miller, 16, survived.

According to a Haines Fire Department media release, Royal Canadian Mounted Police picked up a signal from a locator beacon about six miles west of Three Guardsman mountain Monday afternoon.

Canadian authorities coordinated a rescue, and found Miller alive. They will be transporting the bodies back to the United States, according to the media release.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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