Avalanche inside Western Wyoming buried two skiers over the weekend, killing one and injuring the other.
Teton County Search and Rescue says the fatal incident happened on Togwotee Pass in the Breccia Cliffs area on Saturday afternoon.
The two skiers were part of a group of four hiking in the backcountry about 20 miles east of Grand Teton National Park when they triggered the tornado.
One of the skiers was completely buried while the other was partially buried with leg injuries.
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A large mudslide in Wyoming west of Togwotee Pass killed Kenneth Goff, an experienced backcountry skier, and injured another skier on January 4, 2025. (Teton County Search and Rescue)
An emergency alert for the popular tornado burial went out just before noon Saturday, but it took first responders nearly four hours to reach the scene due to weather conditions.
Teton County Search and Rescue initially sent teams to respond with a helicopter, snowmobiles and skis. The helicopter eventually returned because “conditions did not allow for air response” and the snowmobile team was also unable to reach the skiers due to “challenging situations.”
A team of skiers – a piece of cloth that sticks to the bottom of skis to help climb hills – finally arrived at the party at 3:47 pm They treated an injured skier and used debris to ski someone out country to the ambulance.
Teton County Search and Rescue crews had a difficult time getting to the ski party due to inclement weather. (Teton County Search and Rescue)
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They were also able to find the skier's body and used a skeed to get him out from behind. Teton County Coroner Brent Blue identified him as Kenneth Goff, 36, according to The Associated Press.
Goff, who was from Lander, Wyoming, was an experienced outsider and worked as a nurse with the city's search and rescue team, according to her resume on the portfolio website.
Kenneth Goff, 36, has been identified by the Teton County coroner as the person who died skiing in the avalanche. (Kenneth Goff's website / Portfolium)
He has worked as a rock climbing instructor in various capacities since October 2011 and has been teaching rock climbing and mountaineering courses at the Lander National Outdoor Leadership School since May 2017.
Goff is the fifth man killed by an icebreaker United States this winter.
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“This is an important reminder of how long a mission can take when a helicopter is grounded, and is another factor to consider in your emergency plan,” Teton County Search and Rescue wrote on Facebook.
“TCSAR extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier.”