A Haines man was reported trapped in an avalanche on Tuesday in the Kicking Horse Drainage, but was rescued from the avalanches icy grip shortly after troopers report in the trooper dispatch.

Alaska State Troopers were notified of a possibly fatal avalanche accident on Tuesday at 11:35 am. The initial report coming in to the troopers reported that 40-year-old Scott Sunberg of Haines had been trapped in an avalanche that he incurred in the area of Telemark Ridge. Sunberg had been at that location testing snow conditions.

Sunberg had performed a “hard carve” while testing the area, triggering an avalanche that quickly enveloped him.

When his rescuers got to Sunberg, they found that he had been partially buried. While part of his body was exposed, the upper portion of his body had been buried by the avalanche. When he was pulled from the potentially deadly snow, Sunberg quickly regained consciousness. He was transported to the clinic in Haines for evaluations. Once checked out, it was found that Sunberg suffered no apparent injuries.

Sunberg was wearing proper safety equipment that included an airbag when he was rescued by SEABA personnel, who were present on the mountain when the incident occurred.

  Alaska, avalanche, haines, scott sunberg, seaba, telemark ridge