Alaska State Troopers News Release
On Feb. 15 at 4:45 pm Soldotna state Troopers dispatch received a 911 call reporting an avalanche that occurred on the backside of the mountain near the Turnagain Pass rest stop at Mile 68 of the Seward Highway.
Initial reports from individuals on scene stated there were snowmachiners buried. Troopers, US Forest Service, Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire Department, and Moose Pass Volunteer Fire Dept. all responded to the scene. The Helo 1 rescue helicopter also responded and Lifeguard was put on standby, but later released. Shortly after rescuers arrived at the scene.
The Trooper’s dispatch received another 911 call from a person on scene stating that three people had been buried in the snow approximately 45 minutes. All attempts to resuscitate the individuals were unsuccessful. All other members of the snowmachine party are accounted for. The two snowmachiners killed in the avalanche were Christoph Vonalvensleben, 25, of Anchorage and Jeremy Stark, 27 of Anchorage. A third snowmachiner, Andrew Baugh, 38, of Girdwood was also buried in the avalanche debris, but was recovered and evacuated by helicopter, treated by EMS staged at the Turnagain Pass parking lot and released. The three were part of a six-person snowmachine group that had taken off from the Turnagain Pass parking lot. The avalanche was triggered by members of that group as they snowmachined in an area two bowls back from the parking area.
The three other snowmachiners in the party were Kevin Bennett, 19, of Anchorage, Martin Mlyneux, 38, of Anchorage and Thomas Frankson Jr., 26, of Anchorage.
The group was out for only ten minutes when the avalanche was triggered by a snowmachiner in the group. The avalanche potential in that area off the Turnagain Pass parking lot is a popular spot for snowmachining enthusiasts. Avalanche danger was high that day.
Troopers again caution outdoor recreationalists of the avalanche hazards in the Turnagain Pass and Hatcher Pass areas and urge people to be aware of the possibility of natural and human-triggered avalanches.