Rescue personnel found the bodies of three off-piste skiers buried six meters (20 feet) deep in a massive avalanche in southwestern Colorado, authorities said.
The bodies of the skiers, located with the help of their trackers, could not be extracted because bad weather conditions prevented the helicopter from retrieving them from the place between the towns of Silverton and Ophir, said the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management. .
The landslide occurred Monday in an area known to locals as La Nariz, and the risk of avalanches in the area had prevented rescuers from conducting search operations. A fourth skier was found by rescuers with only minor injuries.
Authorities from Eagle County and the town of Eagle on Wednesday identified the deceased skiers as county employees Seth Bossung and Andy Jessen, as well as Adam Palmer, a co-founder of the Bonfire Brewing brewery in Eagle, the Vail Daily reported.
“Our hearts heavy for the loss of these three men. Their contributions through their work in local government and local businesses, as well as their personal passions and their impact on the friends and family members they leave behind, have helped shape the community in ways that will last forever. ” said a statement from Eagle County and the town of Eagle.