Snowboarder, snowmobiler are latest avalanche victims

A snowboarder buried Thursday afternoon in an avalanche in the Togwotee Pass area died at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center later that day, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reported.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Michael McKelvey, 31, of Jackson. His incident marked the fourth time Teton County rescuers were called to respond in just three days.

The newspaper said a 56-yearold Michigan man died after an avalanche swept eight snowmobilers downslope near the town of Alpine, close to the Idaho state line.

Greg Stanczak, who was visiting the area with family, was buried in avalanche debris, Lincoln County Coroner Dain Schwab said.

The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center had warned of “large to very large” avalanches in ranges south of the Teton Mountains, where the avalanche occurred.

At least 28 people have been killed in avalanches in the United States so far this year, up from 23 who died last winter. Avalanche forecasters throughout the Rocky Mountain region say backcountry users are facing the most hazardous conditions in a decade.

Successive waves of new snow have added weight and stress on a weak, granular base layer of snow that is extremely susceptible to breaking apart.

In Utah, the state avalanche center has warned anyone in the mountains to avoid being near or under any steep slope because of avalanche danger.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says rescuers recovered the body of a man on Wednesday, a day after he was buried at high altitude while snowmobiling near Ruby Mountain in Jackson County.