Alaska Teen Dies in Avalanche, Fourth Fatality in March

Tucker Challan, 16, was buried 10 feet deep after triggering a slide in Turnagain Pass, as experts warn of persistent avalanche dangers.

Tucker Challan, a 16-year-old snowmachiner from Soldotna, died in an avalanche on March 22, 2025, in Turnagain Pass, Alaska.
The avalanche, triggered by Challan while riding on Seattle Ridge, measured approximately 500 feet wide and buried him under 10 feet of snow.
Experts identified a weak snow layer, buried under newer snow, as the cause of the slide and have warned of these conditions for weeks.
This marks the fourth avalanche-related death in Alaska this month, following the deaths of three heli-skiers earlier in March near Girdwood.
Authorities continue to urge recreationists to avoid steep slopes as avalanche conditions remain highly dangerous in the region.