A 16-year-old boy, Tucker Challan, died in an avalanche he triggered while snowmachining in Alaska's Turnagain Pass. He was buried 10 feet deep in a slide caused by a weak snow layer under newer snow. This marks the fourth avalanche-related death in Alaska this month, with authorities warning of ongoing dangerous conditions.

A tragic incident has claimed the life of a teenager in Alaska, marking the fourth avalanche-related death in the state this month. Alaska State Troopers reported that the body of 16-year-old Tucker Challan from Soldotna was recovered by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group on Sunday following the avalanche.

According to the troopers, a group of snowmachiners had been riding on the backside of Seattle Ridge in Turnagain Pass — a popular winter recreation area approximately 60 miles southeast of Anchorage — when the avalanche occurred. The authorities noted that witnesses saw a juvenile male trigger the avalanche and become buried under the snow.

Wendy Wagner, the director of the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center, explained that Challan was found buried about 10 feet deep in the snow. The avalanche, which measured roughly 500 feet wide, was set off when Challan rode over a weak layer of snow covered by newer, heavier snow near the middle of the slope.

Wagner expressed concern about the overall snow conditions in the area, explaining that a fragile, unstable layer of snow lies about three feet beneath the surface. This vulnerable layer is prone to collapsing under the weight of the newer snow, significantly increasing the risk of avalanches.

At the time of the incident, staff from the avalanche center were on the other side of Seattle Ridge, participating in an avalanche awareness event. Wagner emphasized the unpredictable nature of avalanches in such conditions, noting that they can be triggered from various positions on the slope — whether someone is at the top, the side, or even at the bottom.

“These types of avalanches can be triggered when you’re on the slope, at the bottom of the slope, or even at the side or top,” Wagner explained. “All it takes is breaking that weak layer, and it shoots out like dominoes, breaking into the slopes.”

Wagner further noted that while the fragile layer could potentially be broken on flat terrain, it wouldn't result in an avalanche due to the absence of a slope. She advised that during such dangerous conditions, the safest approach is to avoid slopes steep enough to slide. Unfortunately, Challan was on the edge of a slope when the avalanche struck, leaving him unable to escape.

The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center had been cautioning the public about the unstable snowpack for weeks. Similar conditions had led to a tragic incident on March 4, when three heli-skiers were killed in an avalanche near Girdwood, approximately 40 miles south of Anchorage.

“It’s still unsafe,” Wagner warned. “We are still recommending that people stick to lower-angle slopes because this is not something we want to mess with.”

This devastating loss serves as a sobering reminder of the power and unpredictability of nature, as well as the importance of adhering to safety guidelines in avalanche-prone areas.