JACKSON, Wyo. — An Idaho man died in an avalanche while snowmobiling in Wyoming’s Jackson area, the second person killed by a slide within two hours, authorities said.
Rex J. Anderson, 39, of Arco, Idaho, was killed Thursday while snowmobiling in Waterfall Canyon near the Idaho border, the Jackson Hole News &Guide reported.
The slide occurred less than two hours after Jackson resident Michael Kazanjy, 29, was killed by an avalanche while he was skiing a slope known as Pucker Face.
Anderson, 39, was with three other snowmobilers when he was buried by the slide, the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center said.
Anderson’s companions were not caught in the slide. They found him with the help of his avalanche beacon and dug him out within 10 minutes but could not revive him, authorities said.
A helicopter from Air Rescue Idaho arrived within 37 minutes. Rescue crew members confirmed Anderson could not be revived, authorities said.
The avalanche was about 350 yards long but the depth wasn’t immediately available. It occurred at about 9,000 feet elevation.
Kazanjy was initially reported to be snowboarding at the time he was killed in an avalanche, but a Jackson Hole Mountain Resort spokeswoman said he was skiing.
Attempts by his companions to revive him failed, authorities said.
The avalanche that killed Kazanjy occurred at around 10,300 feet.
Both avalanches occurred in the early afternoon, when the avalanche center had warned that slides were most likely. Both occurred at elevations where the avalanche danger was ranked as “moderate.”
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