This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
Two Skiers Killed and Five Rescued After Avalanche in Idaho ¶
On January 7, 2020, an avalanche occurred at the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho, resulting in the deaths of two skiers and the rescue of five others.
According to the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office, the avalanche happened around 11 a.m. near Wardner Peak, a 6,200-foot mountain that is part of the Silver Mountain Resort.
Mac Pooler, the longtime mayor of Kellogg, stated that snowfall in the area had been below average this winter, but the resort had received 16 to 18 inches of new snow overnight.
Pooler noted that the avalanche was unusual, as he had never heard of one that trapped anyone.
The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office initially reported that four individuals had been 'recovered' from the avalanche area, and search efforts were still underway. Later, it was confirmed that the two skiers who died were among those recovered.
The United States Forest Service had issued a backcountry avalanche warning earlier on January 7 for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
As of January 8, the resort had been closed, and the authorities had not released the names of the people who died.
