Update: The body of 16-year-old Tucker Challan, a snowmachiner from Soldotna, was recovered Sunday morning by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. The recovery took place around 11 a.m., and his remains were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Authorities confirmed that his family has been notified.
Original story:
A teenage snowmachiner tragically lost his life on Saturday afternoon after triggering an avalanche on the backside of Seattle Ridge in Turnagain Pass, according to the Alaska State Troopers.
The incident was reported at 2:34 p.m. on Mar. 22. Troopers said the victim, a juvenile male, was riding with a group of other snowmachiners northwest of the Seward Highway when the avalanche occurred. Only after being informed by witnesses that the teen had been caught and buried in the slide did efforts from those on scene prove successful.
The body of the victim remains in a hazardous and unstable area, and recovery efforts are to take place on Sunday, Mar. 23, when conditions allow. The Alaska Mountain Rescue Group will lead the operation.
The boy’s name has not yet been released, but next of kin have been notified.
The tragedy comes amid heightened avalanche danger in the region. Four human triggered avalanches were reported in the Turnagain Pass area on Saturday by the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center. They said the avalanches broke two to three feet deep and likely on a weak layer of buried surface hoar.
The avalanche danger is considerable the forecasters warned; ride only on low angle terrain and avoid steep, snow loaded slopes. “You might think you can outsmart this problem but the consequences could be severe.”
The same unstable conditions exist in nearby areas such as Seward and Lost Lake with Summit Lake rated at *moderate* danger. The wind slabs and persistent weak layers are still a serious threat.
For current avalanche conditions and safety tips, visit ChugachAvalanche.org.