Avalanche
56-year-old Mountain guide Peter Inglis of Telluride, CO was skiing deep in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (as large as Switzerland) when a cornice gave way underneath him this week. Peter lost his life in the fall that resulted from the cornice break.
The exact details of this incident are unclear at this time, but here’s what is being reported:
Peter was standing on a cornice at about 7,000-feet when the cornice broke or Peter fell through the cornice. Peter fell down the slope below and did not survive the accident. Peter may have died from the fall or may have been buried in an avalanche resulting from the cornice break and fall.
The owner of Ultima Thule lodge, Paul Claus, a famous Alaskan bush pilot, was able to land his turbine Otter plane near the accident scene and determine that Peter was deceased.
Peter was known as a very safe mountain traveler and guide. He was reportedly not guiding when the accident occurred.
“This was not extreme skiing at all, this is what normal skiers would do they were not doing anything wild.” – Donna Claus, co-owner of Ultima Thule Lodge, AK
Peter Inglis was from Telluride, CO where he was a legendary guide, ski instructor, and avalanche forecaster. Peter had spent large amounts of time in Alaska guiding for Mountain Trip and had guided 20,320′ Mt. McKinley in Alaska 15 times. Peter was also a 20-year veteran guide of Telluride Adventure Guides.
We send our deepest condolences to Peter’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Learn more about Peter Inglis here: Peter Inglis Backcountry Magazine Profile
SKI PATROLLER!!!!