Ski guide dead after Kicking Horse Valley avalanche

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 11:49pm
News

ANCHORAGE, (AP) — A ski guide who was critically injured after being buried by an avalanche in Alaska has died.

Alaska State Troopers say they were notified by the state medical examiner’s office that 31-year-old Aaron Karitis of Bend, Ore., was declared dead Monday night. He was injured Saturday morning in Kicking Horse Valley west of Haines.

Troopers say Karitis was unconscious when he was pulled out from under the snow.

Karitis was a guide with Southeast Alaska Backcountry Skiing Adventures.

Troopers say the avalanche occurred shortly after Karitis finished checking conditions downslope from his clients. Troopers say the guide didn’t like the conditions and wanted to move.

None of his clients got caught in the avalanche.

Karitis was wearing a locator beacon, which is how rescuers were able to find him.

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