Heli-skier dies after avalanche in Chugach Mountains

The 63-year-old California resident was extracted from the slide but later died at an Anchorage hospital.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:55am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a heli-skier navigating a steep, snow-covered mountain slope, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in muted blues, grays, and whites with hints of orange and yellow to represent movement.A cubist interpretation of the inherent risks and extreme conditions faced by heli-skiers in Alaska's rugged Chugach Mountains.Anchorage Today

A 63-year-old California resident was killed in an avalanche while heli-skiing in the Chugach Mountains near Lake George on Friday. Heli-ski guides were able to extract the skier from the slide and take him to an Anchorage-area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Why it matters

Heli-skiing in Alaska's rugged Chugach Mountains carries inherent risks, and this incident highlights the dangers that even experienced skiers can face. The Chugach region has seen several high-profile heli-skiing fatalities in recent years, raising concerns about safety protocols and avalanche mitigation efforts.

The details

According to Alaska State Troopers, the incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Friday, about 1 mile east of Lake George in the Chugach Mountains. The skier was part of a group with Silverton Mountain Guides, a heli-ski operator based in Girdwood that has been leading trips in Alaska since 2008. Troopers did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the avalanche or the response efforts.

  • The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2026.
  • The skier was pronounced dead after being taken to an Anchorage-area hospital.

The players

Silverton Mountain Guides

A heli-ski operator based in Girdwood, Alaska that has been leading trips in the state since 2008.

Alaska State Troopers

The law enforcement agency that responded to and investigated the incident.

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What’s next

Troopers are continuing to investigate the incident, and it is unclear if any additional information will be released about the specifics of the avalanche or the skier's identity.

The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent risks involved in heli-skiing in Alaska's rugged backcountry. It underscores the need for stringent safety protocols, thorough avalanche forecasting, and highly trained guides to mitigate the dangers that skiers can face in this extreme environment.