Snowmobiler Killed in Forest Avalanche

An avalanche killed a snowmobiler from Anchorage near the Kenai Peninsula town of Hope, Alaska state troopers said.

Russel Foster, 35, was covered by 3 to 5 feet of snow in the avalanche, which occurred Sunday afternoon, the troopers said. Although he was carrying an emergency locater beacon and his companions were able to dig him out within 20 to 30 minutes, attempts at resuscitation failed, the troopers said.

Foster had been in a group of seven snowmobilers riding in a section of the mountainous Chugach National Forest south of Anchorage, the troopers said.