Avalanche forecaster dies in snowslide while skiing on Oregon mountain

2024-12-25 23:22:15 source:lotradecoin limits category:Finance

An experienced backcountry skier died in an avalanche he triggered while skiing with a friend in Oregon last week, officials said.

Nick Burks, 37, died following a landslide on a chute at Gunsight Mountain near Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort on Wednesday, the Baker County Sheriff's Office said.

Burks was with another skier, William Sterling Sloop, and both were equipped with avalanche airbags and beacons, the sheriff's office said.

According to the sheriff's office, Sloop made it to the bottom first, and watched as Burks came down, when an avalanche was triggered and overtook him.

Sloop then used his transceiver to locate Burks near a tree. A group at the lodge had seen the avalanche and called first responders, before going over to assist Burks. When deputies arrived at the scene, bystanders were already performing CPR on Burks.

"We are grateful to those bystanders who immediately took action and performed CPR," the sheriff's office wrote.

Efforts to resuscitate Burks were unsuccessful and he died as a result of his injuries. Sloop was uninjured, the sheriff's office said.

Burks worked as an avalanche forecaster

Northwest Avalanche Center in Washington said Burks was "an integral part" of its professional avalanche community for years.

Burks was a former member of the snow safety team at Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort and an avalanche forecaster for the Wallowa Avalanche Center (WAC) in northeastern Oregon.

"We offer our deepest sympathies to our friends at WAC, and stand with everyone touched by this devastating event," the center wrote.

More:Finance

Recommend

East Coast storm makes a mess at ski resorts as strong winds cause power outages

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A storm that swept up the East Coast delivered a blow to New England, packing

Megan Thee Stallion addresses beef with Nicki Minaj: 'Don't know what the problem is'

Megan Thee Stallion doesn’t just have bars. She has an unapologetic bite.The hip-hop star, who ignit

No leggings, no crop tops: North Carolina restaurant's dress code has the internet talking

A North Carolina soul food restaurant is receiving backlash for enforcing a dress code that some peo