The group was traveling with guides from a commercial heli-skiing operation, which escorts backcountry skiers via helicopter to the tops of mountains that are otherwise inaccessible.

Alaska State Troopers continue to search for three backcountry skiers who are missing after an avalanche earlier this week.

Radio Mankato identified one of the skiers caught in the backcountry avalanche as David Linder, who was part of a heli-skiing group.

Alaska State Troopers say three skiers who had flown by helicopter to a remote mountain range were swept away by an avalanche and likely killed under the weight of snow nearly as deep as a 10-story building.

Image via Facebook A radio host and his two buddies were tragically killed after an avalanche buried them under 100 feet of snow. The trio were heli-skiing in Alaska when the incident occurred. David Linder,

Officials at the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center have confirmed that three skiers on a heli-skiing tour died in an avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, southeast of Anchorage, this week. The avalanche occurred on March 4 at about 3:30 pm.

Dangerous avalanche conditions in the area persist, stalling recovery efforts and prompting warnings from forecasters.