An avalanche in western Wyoming buried two skiers over the weekend, killing one and injuring the other.
Teton County Search and Rescue said the deadly incident took place on the Togwotee Pass in the Breccia Cliffs area on Saturday afternoon.
Two skiers were part of a group of four heading up a mountain in the backcountry, about 20 miles east of Grand Teton National Park, when they set off an avalanche.
One skier was completely buried while the other was partially buried with leg injuries.
They managed to retrieve the skier’s body and utilized a sked to remove him from the backcountry. The skier was identified as Kenneth Goff, 36, by Teton County Coroner Brent Blue, as reported by The Associated Press.
Goff, hailing from Lander, Wyoming, was a seasoned outdoorsman who also held roles as a nurse and member of the city’s search and rescue team, as indicated on his portfolio website.
Kenneth Goff, 36, was identified by the Teton County coroner as the skier killed in the avalanche. (Kenneth Goff / Portfolium webpage)
He had worked as a rock climbing instructor in various capacities since October 2011 and had been teaching climbing and mountaineering courses at the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander since May 2017.
Goff is the fifth person killed by an avalanche in the United States this winter.
“This serves as an important reminder of how much longer a mission can take when the helicopter is grounded, and is another factor to consider in your backcountry planning should an accident occur,” Teton County Search and Rescue wrote on Facebook.
“TCSAR extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier.”
