Alaska has a high rate of avalanche fatalities per capita. As backcountry recreation has increased, the number of avalanche accidents has also increased. The list below has been compiled from the American Avalanche Association, Colorado Avalanche Information Center,  Alaska Outdoor Fatalities website, and Snowy Torrents.

Please see the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s site for a listing of charts and graphs organized by state, activity, user group, age, and burial depths of documented accidents in the United States. More Info Here

If you have a close-call or accident, please report it to your local avalanche center so others may learn from your situation.  If you wish to keep the details unpublished, we respect that, please still let us know. The conditions that caused your close-call could kill someone else.

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2020-2021 Season: 6 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20210513 – Ruth Glacier, Denali National Park, 2 climbers caught in serac fall, one killed
• 20210327: Matanuska Glacier, 1 heliskier caught and killed
• 20210202: Bear Mountain, Chugach State Park, 3 climbers caught and killed

2019-2020 Season: 3 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20200309: Hatcher Pass, 1 backcountry skier caught and killed
• 20200225: Unalaska Island, 1 snowmobiler caught and killed
• 20200210: Boulder Creek Drainage, South of Cooper Landing, 1 snowmobiler caught and killed

2018-2019 Season: 2 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20190309: Crescent Lake Kenai Peninsula, 1 snowboarder caught and killed 
• 20190313: Takshanuk Mountain, north of Haines, 1 snowboarder caught and killed

2017-2018 season: 3 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20180502 Kenai Mountains, 1 snowmachiner killed, Blackstone Glacier
• 20180225 Ketchikan, 1 snowboarder killed
• 20171122 Hatcher Pass, 1 skier killed

2016-2017 season: 2 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20170401 North Pole, child killed in roof avalanche
• 20170128 Near Cooper Landing, Kenai Peninsula, 1 Snowmobiler killed
• 20161229 Turnagain Pass, Lipps. Skier near miss.

2015-2016 season: 6 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20160411 Summit Lake, near Gulkana Glacier, 1 snowmobiler caught, buried and killed Read More
• 20160403 Summit Lake, Eastern Alaska Range, Courage Mountain, 1 Snowmobiler killed Read More
• 20160227 Glennallen, Chugach Mountains, near Nelchina Glacier, 2 snowmobilers caught, 1 killed Read more
• 20160116 Hatcher Pass <here>
• 20160102 Willow side of Hatcher Pass snowmachine fatality. ADN article.
• 20151129 Summit Lake area full burial survivor <here>
• 20151122 Hatcher Pass solo skier fatality  <here>
• 20151114 Summit Lake area full burial survivor
• 20151107 O’Malley Peak near-miss
• 20151106 Hatch Peak partial burial near-miss

2014-2015 season: 3 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20150402 Wrangells skier killed in cornice fall
• 20150314 Cantwell snowmachine fatality
• 20150101 Thompson Pass near-miss. Full burial survivor.
• 20141228 Sunburst, Turnagain Pass near-miss. Full burial survivor.
• 20141206 Rainbow Ridge area, Alaska Range 1 ski fatality, 1 dog fatality, 1 survivor. Summary <here>. NPR story <here>. Survivor’s account news article <here>.

2013-2014 season: 1 FATALITY IN ALASKA

• 20140315 Haines 1 heli ski fatality. Summary <here>. Freeskier article <here>.
• 20140111 Valdez snowmachine near-miss Brown’s Creek

2012-2013 season: 1 FATALITY IN ALASKA

• 20130303 Haines 1 heli ski fatality. Summary <here>. More details <here>. Survivor story <here>.

2011-2012 season: 6 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20120613 Denali 4 climber fatalities
• 20120313 Haines 2 heli ski fatalities
• 20120311 close-call snowmachine burial, Wrangell-St.Elias Park near Kennecott 
• 20120211 Close-call windslab avalanche, 2 skiers caught; 1 full burial, 1 partial burial, Turnagain Pass

2010-2011 season: 6 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20110525 Mt.Frances, Alaska Range 2 climber fatalities
• 20110428 Ruth Gorge ice fall fatality
• 20110418 Bird Creek sledding fatality
• 20110409 Thompson Pass skier triggered
• 20110319 Hatcher Pass skier fatality
• 20110312 Ketchikan snowboarder fatality
• 20110129 Summit Lake near miss
• 20110124 Thompson Pass near miss

2009-2010 season: 5 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20100529 Ruth Gorge 2 climber fatalities
• 20100416 Thompson Pass near miss
• 20100329 involvement (before competition)
• 20100313 Revelstoke snowmachine competition
• 20100310 Thompson Pass near miss
• 20100213 Anchorage area, 3 fatalities: two snow-machining, one skiing
• 20100201 Alaska Range near miss near Mile 192 Richardson Highway: friends dug out and resuscitated 1 person

2008-2009 season: 2 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20090418 Nick’s 30 Mile snowmachine fatality
• 20090325 Johnson Pass snowmachine fatality
• 20081201 Nick’s 30 Mile, remote triggered size 3 near miss
  

2007-2008 season: 4 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20080407 Vertigo Mile 29, Thompson Pass snowboarder fatality
• 20080308 Cordova, avalanche forecaster skier fatality
• 20080215 Turnagain Pass, 2 snowmachining fatalities

2006-2007 season: 2 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20070517 Mt.Barille, Denali National Park, 2 climbing fatalities

2005-2006 season: 4 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20060228 Marmot Mountain, 1 snowboarder fatality
• 20060214 Rainy Pass, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 20060208 Flat Top, 1 snowshoer fatality
• 20060103 Ragged Top, 1 skier fatality

2004-2005 season: 1 FATALITY IN ALASKA

• 20050216 Mt.Huntington, 1 climber fatality

2003-2004 season: 3 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20040410 Gun Creek near Paxson, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 20040228 Byron Glacier Peak near Portage, 1 climber fatality
• 20040122 Roof slide at Portage, 1 fatality

2002-2003 season: 4 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20030415 Devils Thumb, 2 climber fatalities
• 20030410 Verde Peak, Chugach Mtns, 1 skier fatality
• 20030209 Hatch Peak, 1 snowboarder fatality

2001-2002 season: 11 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20020613 Mt. Foraker, 3 climber fatalities
• 20020331 Mt. Magnificent, Eagle River, 2 snowshoer fatalities
• 20020112 Coney Mtn. Cantwell, 2 snowmachine fatalities
• 20011224 Mile 185 Parks Hwy, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 20011223 Swetmann mine area near Hope, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 20011211 Pt. Whitshed, Cordova, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 20011111 Hatcher Pass, 1 snowshoer fatality

2000-2001 season: 4 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20010318 Summit Lake, 1 snowmachiner fatality
• 20010203 20 miles south of Eureka Lodge, 2 snowmachiner fatalities
• 20001219 South of Cantwell, 1 snowmachine fatality

1999-2000 season: 5 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 20000408 Snowshoe Peak near Talkeetna, 1 skier fatality
• 20000408 Summit Lake north of Paxson, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 20000201 Seward Highway, 1 bulldozer operator fatality
• 20000106 Cordova, 1 urban fatality
• 19991226 Hatcher Pass, 1 snowmachine fatality

1998-1999 season: 12 FATALITIES IN ALASKA

• 19990514 Blue Lake near Sitka, 1 hiker fatality
• 19990430 Ultima Thule Peak, 1 climber fatality
• 19990427 Mt. McGinnis near Juneau, 1 snowboarder fatality
• 19990416 Talkeetna Mtns near Cantwell, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 19990415 Cordova, 1 worker fatality
• 19990403 South of Eureka, 1 snowmachine fatality
• 19990321 Turnagain Pass, 6 snowmachiner fatalities

The following are older incomplete records:

1997-1998 season:

• 19971124 Crow Pass, 1 hiker fatality
• 19971109 Hatcher Pass, 1 snowboard fatality

1996-1997 season:

• 1996 Alaska Range, 3 climber fatalities

1996-1997 season:

• 19970117 Ressurection Pass, 1 hunter fatality

1993-1994 season:

• 19940327 Powerline Pass above Anchorage, 1 snowmachine fatality

1992-1993 season:

• 19921109 Peak 3 above Anchorage, 2 skier fatalities

1991-1992 season:

• 19920618 Mt.Foraker, 2 climber fatalities

1990-1991 season:

• 19901206 Powerline Pass above Anchorage, 1 snowmachine fatality

1988-1989 season:

• 19881206 Tincan, Turnagain Pass, 1 skier fatality

1984-1985 season:

• 19850311 South Fork Eagle River, 1 skier fatality

1983-1984 season:

• 198404 Eagle Peak, 1 ski fatality

1978-1979 season:

• 19790509 Mt.Hunter, 1 climber fatality

1977-1978 season:

• 19780530 Mt.Foraker, 2 climber fatalities
• 19780121 Taylor Pass near Turnagain, 4 skier fatalities

1976-1977 season:

• 19770208 Valdez Oil Terminal, 1 equipment operator killed in roofslide
• 19761212 Sheep Mountain, 1 snowshoe fatality

1974-1975 season:

• 19750510 20 Mile River near Portage, 1 hunter fatality

1973-1974 season:

• 19740201 Thane Road MP 3, Juneau, 1 equipment operator fatality. Unknown equipment operator killed clearing avalanche debris by a secondary avalanche

1951-1952 season:

• 19520509 Bird Hill on Seward Highway, 1 traveler fatality

1919-1920 season:

• 19200428 Alaska Railroad Mile 76 Turnagain Arm, 3 worker fatalities