If you have a friend, loved one or know of someone that lost their life in a tragic outdoor accident, please help us remember them and celebrate their life.

Feel free to call 907-376-2898 or Post comments or messages here:

NAOI will provide a public training program in memory of your loved one.
Call 907-376-2898 today to learn more.

Feb 13, 2010

Our sincere condolences and sympathy are extended to the families of Alaska Conoco Phillips President Jim Bowles and employee Alan Gage who were killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling near Spencer Glacier.

We also wish to extend our sympthy and support to the family of William Brasher Schorr who died in a massive slab avalanche near his home in Eagle River.

View our News Page for more information on these recent tragedies.

Yancy Flair – 3/28/09

TROOPER REPORT Search and Rescue/Death

JOHNSON PASS—On March 28, 2009 at approximately 3 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers received a satellite telephone call from a party of snow machine riders in Johnson Pass. They were reporting that an avalanche had occurred and one person, Yancy Flair, a 35-year-old male from Anchorage, was buried. Flair is presumed deceased after several days of searching. Alaska State Troopers, USFS personnel, and Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs from Girdwood and Cooper Landing, as well as Cooper Landing EMS responded to the Johnson Pass Trail Head. Troopers responded to the scene via snow machine at 3:35 p.m. and more responded in a helicopter from Chugach Powder Guides. Together with Good Samaritans on scene a search was conducted in the area of the avalanche until 7 p.m. without success. The search was ended due to fading daylight and the forecast of severe winter weather. A recovery effort was expected to continue Thursday, April 2. Yancy Flair, 35, was caught in an avalanche while snowmachining at Johnson Pass on March 28. After several days of searching, Flair was presumed deceased. A recovery effort was underway as of Thursday, April 2. This photo, taken by a witness on the scene, shows the massive slide’s path, and is annotated with information marking the entry track and probable recovery area.

Body of missing snowmachiner recovered

by Channel 2 News staff Saturday, April 4, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Searchers have found the body of a snowmachiner covered by an avalanche last week. Alaska State Troopers say the body of Yancy Flair was recovered about 3 p.m. Saturday. He was 35. An avalanche at Johnson Pass last weekend buried Flair, who had been out snowmachining with friends. Poor weather hampered earlier search efforts. And a caution for back country travelers: troopers say avalanche danger from Girdwood all the way down to the Lost Lake recreation area remains extremely high.

Searchers recover body of missing man

The Associated Press
Published: April 5th, 2009 11:08 AM
Last Modified: April 5th, 2009 11:08 AM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The body of a 35-year-old Anchorage man missing in an avalanche at Johnson Pass has been recovered. Alaska State Troopers say the body of Yancy Flair was found at about 3 p.m. Saturday. Flair's body was released to his family and searchers cleared the area by 7 p.m. Flair was driving a snowmobile March 28 and was buried by the avalanche. Initial search efforts were hampered by ash that blew in from Mount Redoubt. Johnson Pass is on the Kenai Peninsula. Trailheads for Johnson Pass are at Mile 32.5 and Mile 64 Seward Highway. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Yancy Flair. At NAOI we understand the pain and loss that will result from this tragedy and will provide support in any way possible.

Jesse Tol – Date: 2008-04-07

Submitted By: WWAN
Place: Little Matterhorn (on the backside of Mount Odessey)
State: AK
Country: USA
Fatalities: 1
Summary: 1 person caught, buried, and killed

***MEDIA REPORTS***

www.valdezstar.net
Avalanche claims the life of Jesse Tol
Tragedy unfolds on Thompson Pass
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star

Memorial service today at 4:00 P.M. at the Valdez Civic Center

Valdez lost one of its great legendary skiers and a family lost its son when an avalanche on Thompson Pass claimed the life of 31-year-old Jesse Tol early Monday afternoon.

The accident occurred on a slope that local back country enthusiasts call ?Little Matterhorn? on the backside of Mount Odessey on Thompson Pass sometime Monday according emergency responders.

It was a beautiful day and Jesse was out with his father, John, doing something the pair loved best, traversing the snow covered mountains on Thompson Pass, an activity the father and son pair passionately pursued through the years.

We use a snowmachine a lot to go ski, the elder Tol told the Star in an interview late Tuesday afternoon.

The father and son had headed out, armed with skis, a snowboard and a camera to take photos, an activity the two did together often. “We were just up there taking pictures,” said his father. Jesse was on foot, climbing up to a higher spot for the first photo of the day when the snow let loose, taking the son down in an avalanche of snow. They never got to take a single picture that day.

“The slide was approximately 500 to 700 feet in length and approximately 200 yards across,” said Meagan Peters, the spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers, in an email regarding the accident, “Jesse was caught in the slide and completely buried,” she added, saying he was found four to five feet beneath the snow.

John Tol was not hurt or swept away during the avalanche. He rushed to the aid of the son he loved so much, and dug him out of the snow, but it was too late.

“He was dead when I got him out,” he said, “That’s about it.”

A satellite phone call came to the emergency dispatcher at the Valdez Police Department at 1:43 p.m. according to Sheri Pierce, the public information officer for the city.

A helicopter operated by H-2-0 Guides, the heli-skiing company owned by Dean Cummings, was the first on the scene and guides Geaf Terusse and Gabe Monroe worked to resuscitate Tol for at least half an hour according to Cummings.

“H2O responded with their helicopters,” said Pierce. “EMTs from Valdez were waiting by the road, around Mile 28 of the Richardson Highway. EMTs were at the scene by 2:11.”

“In this case it was just the worst,” said Cummings, himself a noted avalanche safety expert. Other heli-skiing operators arrived at the scene, including a helicopter operated by Valdez Heli Camps, which was equipped to carry out the fatally injured man.

“We provided some support,” said Todd Webster, an employee of Valdez Heli Camps who was contacted by phone shortly after the accident on Monday. “We’re not going to make a comment until there is an official police report.”

‘While en route to the local hospital, Jesse was pronounced deceased,’ Peters wrote.

“I skied back down by myself,” said John, “That was probably one of the last runs I’m going to do for a long time.”

News of the tragic event spread quickly through the skiing community where Tol is well known as an experienced extreme skier.

“Jesse was an accomplished skier,” said a family friend after hearing the sad news. In addition to having been one of the finest skiers to come out of Valdez and the World Extreme Skiing Championships, Tol traveled the world’s best known ski spots, including those in Europe and South America. His family was very proud of that.

Especially his dad.

They truly were the best of friends, said the friend, “they did everything… so much together.” The family is planning a memorial service for Jesse at the Valdez Civic Center at 4:00 p.m. today.

Dean Cummings said that the North America Outdoor Institute will host a special avalanche awareness event this coming April 18, in an attempt to bring the community together.

Many of us at NAOI knew Jesse and extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his family and close friends.