An avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, buried three heli-skiers on Tuesday afternoon, likely trapping them under 40 to 100 feet of snow. Recovery efforts have been hindered by dangerous conditions, and officials suspect the individuals did not survive. Troopers plan to assess the area for possible recovery operations. The region sees an average of 25-30 avalanche fatalities each winter across the U.S., raising concerns about safety in backcountry skiing.