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Saturday April 18, 2009. One snowmachiner died after triggering an avalanche while a skier died after going off a cliff Friday, April 17th, according to Alaska State Troopers and the Valdez Fire Department.

Snowmachiner Jordan Williams, 27, of Anchorage, died after being buried under more than 10 feet of snow by the avalanche at Thompson Pass.
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Skier Herve Mazieres, 32, of France died Friday six miles in from Mile 29 of the Richardson Highway, troopers said.
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Other accidents over the past few days in Thompson Pass included a snowmachiner who fell 50 feet into a crevasse, a back country ski guide who broke his neck skiing away from a separate avalanche, and several mishaps that left people with broken bones, according to Valdez Fire Department chief George Keeney.

The snowmachiner who fell into the crevasse was recovered and brought to a local hospital, but not injured, Keeney said.

Williams was snowmachining near where the Valdez Mountain Man Hill Climb race was taking place when the avalanche happened Saturday around 12:45 p.m., according to trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen. Williams was not part of the snowmachine competition.

Williams was with his 11-year-old nephew, but left him at the bottom of the gully while he went to highmark closer to the ridge.

Reports vary on what the 11-year-old did after the avalanche started. According to the troopers, Williams yelled at his nephew, who had his own snowmachine, to get out of the area. The nephew made it to safety.

According to the fire department rescuers, though, the boy was on foot and tried to run to help his uncle.

With so many people in the area, rescuers were able to begin the search for Williams immediately, Keeney said. Williams did not have a beacon, but searchers probed and found his snowmachine fairly quickly, Ipsen said.

However, even with the quick action, Williams was dead by the time rescuers got to him. Keeney said he was under his snowmachine and his body had obvious signs of trauma, which may indicate he died in the fall and not in the burial.

"The avalanche danger this time of year can be real nasty," Keeney said.

Mazieres died after skiing off a steep embankment, rolling and striking rocks Friday at around 12:45 p.m., troopers said. He was a client of a heli-ski company. He apparently had veered off course. He was properly equipped with safety gear but still fell a significant distance, Keeney said.

On Saturday, March 28, 2009 in Johnson Pass, Alaska, Yancy Flair of Anchorage, Alaska was lost in an avalanche. His body was recovered on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 3 p.m.
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims.