(TheConservativeTimes.org) – In a dramatic development, a skilled nurse and outdoor enthusiast was killed in a tragic avalanche in Wyoming’s backcountry.
36-year-old nurse Kenneth Goff from Lander, Wyoming, lost his life when a massive avalanche struck a group of four skiers in a remote area about 20 miles east of Grand Teton National Park.
The tragedy unfolded as the group was climbing a mountain at an elevation of 10,400 feet. They triggered a large slab of snow nearly 5 feet thick to break away.
The avalanche fully buried Goff and partially buried another skier, who sustained leg injuries.
Despite Goff’s extensive wilderness experience as an instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School, nature’s raw power proved unforgiving.
Challenging weather conditions obstructed rescue efforts, preventing helicopter access and forcing rescuers to battle through treacherous terrain for four hours to reach the victims.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Teton County Search and Rescue posted on Facebook that it extended “its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier.”
Colleagues have described Goff as “calm and caring, chronically positive, a climbing partner to many, and a friend to all.”
The incident marks the fifth avalanche-related death in the U.S. this winter, highlighting a disturbing trend.
In the past two weeks alone, 39 avalanches have occurred in the same mountain range, 24 of which were triggered by humans.
This surge in avalanche activity comes amid recent heavy snowfall and strong winds, sparking “high” avalanche danger warnings in Montana, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado.
As the Arctic polar vortex threatens to bring cold winds across much of the U.S. in the coming weeks, the National Weather Service advises avoiding slopes steeper than 30 degrees and carrying avalanche rescue equipment.
Although the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center is investigating the avalanche that killed Goff, 1,393 avalanches have been reported this season and 170 since last week.
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