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.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers said an avalanche buried three skiers under a blanket of snow between 40 and 100 feet deep in a small resort town.

The three men killed Tuesday by a massive avalanche during a guided heli-skiing trip in the Chugach Mountains near Girdwood came together in Alaska after meeting years ago in Minnesota.

A trio of skiers is likely buried under an avalanche near Anchorage, Alaska, that occurred Tuesday afternoon, but dangerous backcountry conditions have so far stymied recovery operations, officials announced.

Alaska State Troopers say three skiers who had flown by helicopter to a remote mountain range were swept away by an avalanche and likely killed under the weight of snow nearly as deep as a 10-story building.

The avalanche occurred late Tuesday afternoon near Girdwood, a skiing community about 40 miles south of Anchorage, Alaska.

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.

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

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.