A seasoned avalanche forecaster was killed last week by an avalanche he triggered while backcountry skiing.
Nick Burks, 37, was hitting the chute on Gunsight Mountain near Oregon’s Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Wednesday when he triggered the deadly snowslide, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office said.
Burks and his friend, who was uninjured in the incident, were both experienced backcountry skiers and were carrying avalanche airbags and beacons.
Burks’ friend made it down the chute first, and watched helplessly as the avalanche overtook him, the statement added.
The pal was then able to use his transceiver to locate Burks near a tree.
Onlookers at the ski lodge also saw the avalanche and contacted first responders. Those at the scene provided CPR, but Burks could not be saved.
At the time of his death, Burks worked as an avalanche forecaster for the Wallowa Avalanche Center in northeastern Oregon, the Northwest Avalanche Center said.
He previously worked with the snow safety team at the Mt. Hood Meadows ski area, the organization added.
“Our backcountry community is small and we understand the tremendous grief many are experiencing,” the Wallowa Avalanche Center wrote in a statement.
A full investigation into the incident is forthcoming, the group added.
