In-Bounds Avalanche Kills Man at Jackson Hole Resort, Two Die in Colorado Slide

By Courtney Lowery, 12-29-08

A Wilson, Wyoming man died this weekend in an avalanche at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

David Nodine, 31, was skiing the Paintbrush, an expert trail, with a friend when the avalanche started. Rescuers found him after about six minutes, but he was buried for 10 minutes before they could uncover him. Teton County Bob Campbell tells the Jackson Hole News&Guide that Nodine died of suffocation. He died at the scene.

Nodine is remembered today on the News&Guide Web site, where there’s more details on the story. And for information on avalanche conditions in the Bridger-Tetons—which continue to be dangerous today—click here.

Two people also died over the weekend in northcentral Colorado while snowmobiling on Gravel Mountain. Firefighter Brian Kopp and 19-year-old Mark Goetz died on the mountain. More details at the Rocky Mountain News. The Gravel Mountain avalanche was one of three in Colorado. Another one, also caused by high-marking snowmobiles, happened at Vail Pass, but no injuries resulted. A natural avalanche near Loveland Pass closed U.S. 6.