An avalanche in western Wyoming buried two skiers over the weekend, killing one and injuring another.
Teton County Search and Rescue said the homicide occurred at Togwotee Pass in the Breccia Cliffs area 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 an avalanche.
One skater was completely buried and the other was partially buried with leg wounds.
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A large avalanche in western Wyoming at Togwotee Pass killed Kenneth Goff, an experienced outdoorsman, and left another skier injured on Jan. 4, 2025. (Teton County Search and Rescue)
An emergency warning about the well-known avalanche funeral was issued before noon on Saturday, but it took first responders almost four hours to reach the scene due to the weather.
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 conditions.”
A team of skiers in skins – a fabric that sticks to the ground to help climb hills – finally arrived at the party at 3:47 pm They were treating an injured skier and using a litter to ski someone off the backside to an ambulance.
Teton County Search and Rescue teams had a difficult time reaching the group of skiers due to the challenging weather. (Teton County Search and Rescue)
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They were able to find the body of the skater and used a skid to remove him from the rear. Teton County Coroner Brent Blue identified him as Kenneth Goff, 36, according to the Associated Press.
Goff, a native of Lander, Wyoming, was an outdoor veteran and worked as a nurse with the city’s search and rescue team, according to her resume on the portfolio website.
Kenneth Goff, 36, was identified by the Teton County coroner as the skier who died in the avalanche. (Kenneth Goff / Portfolium web page)
He has worked as a rock climbing instructor in various capacities since October 2011 and has been teaching rock climbing courses at the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander since May 2017.
Goff is the fifth fatal flood in the United States this winter.
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“This is an important reminder of how long an operation can take when a helicopter is grounded, and another thing to consider in your back-up plans in the event of an accident,” Teton County Search and Rescue wrote on Facebook.
“TCSAR extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased skier.”
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