Two men were found alive, and a third was still missing and believed dead after an avalanche Thursday afternoon in the Idaho backcountry, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office said yesterday.

The avalanche happened near Stevens Peak, close to the Montana border.

Three men were initially missing, but two were found alive after searchers were able to contact them with a GPS texting device, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“On January 11, 2024, at approximately 1453 hours, Law Enforcement received a Garmin GPS alert of a possible fatality near Steven’s Peak, in Shoshone County, Idaho. The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office organized a rescue effort to retrieve three males that were believed to have been caught in an avalanche near Steven’s Peak. The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the United States Air Force, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Silver Valley Search and Rescue, and the Silver Mountain Ski Patrol.

We were able to establish communications with two of the individuals through a GPS texting device. Through this communication we were able to locate two of the three males and started a targeted search near their last known location. We located the two males and we were able to bring them back to retrieve medical care. While debriefing the two males, we received information causing us to believe the third male was deceased at the site of the avalanche. Due to this information, we have concluded our search efforts for the safety of all those involved for this evening. We will be conducting a retrieval mission for the third male in the morning of January 12, 2024. We are not releasing the names of the individuals at this time.”

– Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office statement

KREM-TV reports that the two rescued men were recovering in hospital, one with a broken arm.

It is unknown what the men were doing in the area, whether skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, or climbing.

The area had been under an avalanche danger warning for several days due to snowfall and winds creating unstable conditions on high, steep slopes. Today’s avalanche rating is ‘high’ with an avalanche warning in effect, and avalanches triggered by human activity “remain likely” on steeper terrain.

“Today, very dangerous avalanche conditions are expected to persist. The recent accumulation of storm snow, interfaced with early-season old snow, has resulted in a less cohesive layer.  The combination of recent snow and strong winds has led to signifigant wind loading of ridges at upper elevations. It is crucial to exercise cautious route-finding. Travel in or near avalanche terrain is not recommended.”

– Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center, 1/12/24

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The fatality is the third in North America this winter and the second in the United States. On Wednesday, a 66-year-old male skier was killed in an inbounds avalanche at Palisades Tahoe resort in California.

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